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NORTH  CAROLINA  GEOLOGICAL  AND  ECONOMIC  SURVEY 

JOSEPH  HYDE  PRATT,  DIRECTOR 


ECONOMIC  PAPER  No/51 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA 
DURING  1918,  1919,  and  1920 

AND 

FOREST  PROTECTION 

IN  NORTH  CAROLINA 

<* 

BY 

J.  S.  HOLMES,  State  forester 


i j 7 2~ 

RALEIGH 

MITCHELL  PRINTING  COMPANY 
STATE  PRINTERS 
1921 

m 


STATE  GEOLOGICAL  BOARD 


Governor  Cameron  Morrison,  ex  officio  Chairman Raleigh,  N.  C. 


Mu,  Frank  R.  Hewitt 

.'. Asheville,  N.  C. 

Hon.  John  H.  Small 

Washington,  N.  C. 

Mr.  C.  C.  Smoot,  III 

North  Wilkesboro,  N.  C. 

Mr.  Robert  G.  Lassiter 

Oxford,  N.  C. 

Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  Director  and  State  Geologist 


Tli  E‘  ' 
V ic  - Swr  - 


4- 6‘3 

>«■>  3 

Tjr  'i'  1 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL 


Chapel  Hill,  1ST.  C.,  May  20,  1921. 

To  his  Excellency,  Honorable  Cameron  Morrison, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina. 

Sir: — For  the  past  twelve  years  the  Survey  has  made  a practice  of 
collecting  and  publishing  annually  information  concerning  the  extent 
and  amount  of  damage  caused  by  forest  fires  in  order  to  impress  upon 
the  people  of  the  State  the  need  for  greater  care  in  handling  fire  in  and 
near  the  woods.  It  is  felt  that  this  policy  has  been  amply  justified. 

I am,  therefore,  submitting  herewith  for  publication  as  Economic 
Paper  Ho.  51  of  the  Reports  of  the  North  Carolina  Geological  and 
Economic  Survey,  a report  on  the  “Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 
During  1918,  1919  and  1920  and  Forest  Protection  in  North  Carolina.” 
An  Appendix,  containing  the  names  and  addresses  of  all  the  Voluntary 
Township  Forest  Fire  Correspondents  who  reported  for  1920,  has  been 
added  for  the  information  and  convenience  of  the  public  and  as  a 
recognition  of  the  public-spirited  service  these  citizens  have  continued 
to  render  to  the  State.  Yours  respectfully, 

Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  Director, 

North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey. 


PREFACE 


The  year  1920  completed  the  second  phase  of  forest  protection  in 
TsTorth  Carolina  and  the  year  1921  begins  a third. 

The  winter  of  1908-09  saw  the  first  strong  effort  to  secure  legislation 
for  the  protection  of  the  forests  of  the  State  from  fire.  The  General 
Assembly  was  not  then  interested  because  the  people  of  the  various 
counties  cared  little  or  nothing  whether  or  not  their  woods  were  burned 
over.  From  then  on  to  1915,  when  the  forest  fire  law  was  enacted,  con- 
tinuous publicity  and  education  through  publications,  the  press,  meet- 
ings, lectures,  correspondence,  etc.,  was  carried  on  by  the  State  Geo- 
logical and  Economic  Survey.  This  then  might  he  termed  the  period' 
of  publicity. 

Although  the  forest  fire  law  of  1915  carried  no  appropriation,  the 
fact  that  its  enforcement  was  entrusted  to  the  Geological  and  Economic 
Survey  enabled  this  department  to  carry  out  some  of  the  provisions  for 
which  the  necessary  amount  of  money  was  available.  The  cooperation 
of  the  Forest  Service  of  the  Federal  Government  in  fire  prevention  was 
secured  and  a few  men  in  selected  districts  were  appointd  Federal  Patrol- 
men and  State  Forest  Wardens.  Only  fourteen  districts,  comprising 
from  one  to  several  townships,  had  been  started  up  to  the  end  of  1920, 
and  the  wardens  or  patrolmen  in  charge  of  these  districts  were  on  duty 
only  a comparatively  small  part  of  the  year,  just  during  the  dry  and 
dangerous  spring  and  fall  fire  seasons.  The  efforts  of  these  men  have 
been  directed  not  only  towards  the  extinction  of  forest  fires  but  largely 
towards  arousing  in  the  district  an  intelligent  public  opinion,  which  will 
work  towards  the  'prevention  as  well  as  the  suppression  of  forest  fires. 
This  second  period  may  be  considered  the  experimental  stage. 

The  extension  period  has  begun  with  the  appointment  by  the  Survey 
of  Mr.  W.  D.  Clark  as  Chief  Forest  Fire  Warden  in  the  fall  of  1920,  and 
the  increase  of  the  annual  appropriation  of  the  Survey  by  the  General 
Assembly  of  1921,  a part  of  which  will  be  devoted  to  extending  the  forest 
fire  prevention  work.  The  policy  of  the  Survey  will  be  to  continue  work 
in  the  districts  already  established,  provided  the  residents  continue  their 
interest  and  cooperation.  Extension  of  the  work  to  other  districts  will 
be  guided  and  influenced  by  the  amount  and  kind  of  cooperation  which 
can  be  secured  from  the  local  landowners  or  the  county  authorities.  The 
measure  authorizing  and  empowering  county  commissioners  to  cooperate 
with  the  Survey  in  fire  protection,  recently  enacted,  will  undoubtedly 
smooth  the  way  for  arranging  cooperation  of  this  kind.  The  passage  of 
the  state-wide  stock  law  will  have  a very  beneficial  effect  in  reducing  the 
causes  and  the  number  of  forest  fires. 


6 


Poke, st  Pikes  in  North  Carolina 


Cooperation  with  the  IT.  S.  Porest  Service,  as  authorized  by  the  Weeks 
Law,  will  be  continued  and,  due  to  the  increased  amount  that  the  State 
Survey  can  allot  for  the  protection  of  the  forests  of  the  State  from  fire, 
the  State  will  receive  much  greater  cooperation  from  the  Federal  Porest 
Service  and  will  thus  be  enabled  to  protect  greater  areas. 

Protection  of  forests  from  fire  is  a prerequisite  for  all  other  measures 
relating  to  the  conservation  and  perpetuation  of  our  forests.  This  is  by 
far  the  most  necessary  and  important  measure  for  the  State  to  intensively 
carry  out,  because  the  success  of  all  others  is  dependent  upon  it.  The 
principal  object  of  such  a measure  is  to  prevent  fires — not  to  wait  until 
they  are  started  and  then  extinguish  them. 

Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  Director. 


CONTENTS 


Fokest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  1918,  1919,  and  1920:  page 

Introduction  9 

Fire  Seasons  10 

Average  Relative  Monthly  and  Seasonal  Fire  Risks  (Table  1) 10 

Forest  Fires  During  1918 10 

Summary  of  Reports  by  Counties: 

Mountain  Region  (Table  2) 11 

Piedmont  Region  (Table  3) 12 

Coastal  Plain  Region  (Table  4) 13 

Forest  Fires  During  1919 14 

Summary  of  Reports  by  Counties: 

Mountain  Region  (Table  5) 15 

Piedmont  Region  (Table  6) 16 

Coastal  Plain  Region  (Table  7) 17 

Forest  Fires  During  1920 18 

Summary  of  Reports  by  Counties: 

Mountain  Region  (Table  8) 19 

Piedmont  Region  (Table  9) 20 

Coastal  Plain  Region  (Table  10) 21 

Review  of  the  Past  Three  Years 22 


Summary  of  Reports  of  Correspondents  by  Regions  for  1918, 
1919,  and  1920  (Table  11) 


Size  of  Fires  23 

Classification  by  Size  of  Forest  Fires  in  Percentages  (Table  12)..  24 

Progress  of  Protection  24 

Increase  Through  Twelve-Year  Period  in  Average  Damage  Per 
Acre  Burned  Over  and  Decrease  in  Average  Area  of  Each  Fire 
(Table  13)  24 


Causes  of  Forest  Fires 

Causes  of  Forest  Fires  in  Percentages  (Table  14)... 

Laws  Against  Burning  the  Woods 

Intentional  Fires  

Careless  and  Accidental  Fires 

Fires  Must  be  Watched  Carefully 

Forest  Protection  in  North  Carolina 

Federal  Patrolmen  

State  Forest  Wardens  

Instructions  to  State  Forest  Wardens 

How  Fires  Destroy  Community  Values 

How  Fires  May  be  Reduced  in  Size  and  Frequency. 

Causes  of  Forest  Fires 

Duties  of  Forest  Wardens 

Reward  for  Evidence  


24 

25 

26 
27 

27 

28 
29 

29 

30 

31 

31 

32 

37 

38 
42 


Forest  Protection  in  North  Carolina — Continued.  page 

Cooperation  in  Fire  Protection 43 

County  Cooperation  43 

An  Act  to  Authorize  Counties  to  Cooperate 43 

What  Virginia  Has  Accomplished 43 

Proposed  Basis  of  Agreement 44 

Forest  Fire  Protective  Associations 45 

Linville  Forest  Protective  Association 45 

Mount  Mitchell  Forest  Protective  Association 49 

T'ryon  Forestry  Club  50 

Sandhills  Fire  Association..... 53 

Western  Harnett  County  Landowners 55 

Protecting  Mount  Mitchell  State  Park  57 

Act  Providing  for  the  Administration  and  Protection  of  the  Park  58 
Appendix.  List  of  Voluntary  Township  Forest  Fire  Correspondents  Re- 
porting in  1920,  Together  with  List  of  Counties  and  Townships  of 

North  Carolina  61 

Publications.  List  of  North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey. ...  75 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA 

DURING  1918,  1919  AND  1920 


By  J.  S.  Holmes.  State  Forester 


INTRODUCTION 

The  prevention  of  forest  fires  has  for  the  past  few  years  been  growing- 
in  importance  until  now  it  is  one  of  the  ISTation’s  chief  problems.  It  is 
estimated  by  the  United  States  Forest  Service  that  during  the  years 
1916-1918  (the  last  years  for  which  figures  are  available)  an  average 
annual  damage  of  approximately  twenty  million  dollars  to  timber  and 
improvements  was  caused  by  an  average  of  between  thirty  and  thirty- 
five  thousand  forest  fires.  Less  .than  ten  per  cent  of  these  fires  were 
caused  by  lightning,  which  is  the  only  agency  for  starting  fires  beyond 
the  control  of  man.  Practically  ninety  per  cent  of  our  forest  fires  are 
due  to  human  carelessness  and  therefore  could  be  prevented  if  every  one 
would  take  as  much  care  as  the  most  careful. 

This  state  of  things  was  brought  to  the  attention  of  President  Harding 
and  within  thirty  days  of  his  inauguration  he  issued  a proclamation 
designating  and  setting  apart  the  week  of  May  22-28,  1921,  as  Forest 
Protection  Week  and  requesting  “all  citizens  of  their  states  to  plan  for 
that  week  such  educational  and  instructive  exercises  as  shall  bring  before 
the  people  the  serious  and  unhappy  effects  of  the  present  unnecessary 
waste  by  forest  fires,  and  the  need  of  their  individual  and  collective 
efforts  in  conserving  the  natural  resources  of  America.” 

In  this  proclamation  President  Harding-  clearly  brings  out  what  has 
been  recognized  by  foresters  for  a long  time,  that  one  of  the  chief 
weapons  for  the  prevention  of  forest  fires  is  the  education'  of  the  people 
to  be  more  careful.  It  was  with  this  object  in  view  that  the  fSTorth  Caro- 
lina Geological  and  Economic  Survey  started  publishing  in  1910  annual 
forest  fire  reports,  based  on  information  furnished  by  the  leading  and  best 
informed  citizens  in  their  various  communities  throughout  Earth.  Caro- 
lina, who  without  charge  contributed  this  service  for  the  good  of  their 
State.  These  reports  have  shown  an  alarming  condition.  An  estimated 
loss  of  more  than  one  million  dollars  a year  for  the  past  twelve  years  has 
occurred,  almost  entirely  through  the  carelessness  or  indifference  of  our 
own  people.  At  the  same  time  a reduction  in  the  yielding  capacity  of 
our  forests  through  fire  and  destructive  lumbering — and  to  a very  small 
extent  by  necessary  clearing — is  greatly  reducing  the  annual  production 
of  timber  in  this  State,  as  it  is  throughout  the  country. 

Only  by  preventing  this  unnecessary  and  disgraceful  annual  loss  from 
fire  can  we  hope  to  provide  for  the  future  needs  of  the  State  and  Uation, 
which  promise  to  be  as  great,  if  not  greater,  than  they  have  been  in  the 
past. 


10 


Forest  Fires  in  FTorth  Carolina 


FIRE  SEASONS 

Tlie  distribution  of  fires  throughout  the  year,  which  showed  an  abnor- 
mal proportion  of  spring  fires  in  the  last  published  report,  returns  more 
nearly  to  normal  in  the  accompanying  table  which  shows  the  average 
distribution  for  the  three  years  under  consideration.  An  excessively 
dry  and  dangerous  season  resulting  in  a large  number  of  fires  may  occur 
at  almost  any  time  of  the  year,  and  such  an  occurrence  as  the  April  fires 
of  1916  will  give  a disproportionate  percentage  of  fires  for  that  season. 
The  past  three  years  have  been  fairly  average  seasons  so  that  this  table 
is  undoubtedly  nearer  to  the  normal  than  the  one  previously  published. 


Table  L— AVERAGE  RELATIVE  MONTHLY  AND  SEASONAL  FIRE  RISKS  FOR  THREE 
YEARS,  1918,  1919,  AND  1920,  IN  PERCENTAGES 


Mountain 

Piedmont 

Coastal  Plain 

State 

Months 

Seasons 

Months 

Seasons 

Months 

Seasons 

Months 

Seasons 

March 

20' 

26' 

25 

23 

April...  

24 

54 

25 

60 

22 

56 

23 

56 

Spring 

May . ..  

10  ] 

91 

9j 

iO 

June 

2 

3 

4 

3 

July 

1 

4 

3 

9 

3 

9 

2 

7 

Summer 

August 

1 

3 

2 

2 

September-- 

2 

5 

5 

4 

October 

8 

26 

6 

19 

7 

19 

7 

22 

Fall 

November. 

16 

8 

7 

ip 

December. 

12 

6 

6 

8 

January 

2 

16 

2 

12 

4 

16 

3 

15 

Winter 

February _ 

2 

4 

6 

4 

FOREST  FIRES  DURING  1918 

The  year  1918  was  remarkable  for  the  shortness  and  lightness  of  the 
fire  seasons.  Although  the  precipitation  was  light  through  March,  what 
there  was  was  well  distributed;  whereas,  in  April,  a very  heavy  rainfall 
occurred,  which  also  was  well  distributed  over  the  month.  In  May  the 
rains  were  sufficient  to  keep  the  woods  moist  almost  all  the  time.  There 
were  few  periods  of  high  winds  and  comparatively  few  serious  fires 
occurred.  Four  Federal  Patrolmen  were  appointed  in  March  and  taken 
off  the  latter  part  of  May.  One,  however,  was  not  appointed  until  April, 
and  the  sixth  only  worked  through  the  month  of  May.  Four  of  these 
cooperated  with  Forest  Fire  Protective  Associations,  and  the  other  two 
were  patrolling  whole  counties. 

The  fall  fire  season  commenced  early  in  November,  but  by  the  middle 
of  the  month  most  of  the  serious  danger  was  over.  Throughout  the 
State  there  were  hardly  any  fires  serious  enough  to  call  forth  comment 
in  the  newspapers.  Only  one  Federal  Patrolman  was  appointed  before 
^November  1.  They  were  taken  off  the  second  week  in  December. 


Fokest  Fiees  in  North  Carolina 


11 


Table  2—  FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1918 
Summary  of  Reports  from  Correspondents  by  Counties 


Mountain  Region 


County 

Total  Number  of 
Townships  in  County 

Number  of  Town- 
ships Reporting 

Number  of  Replies 
Received 

Number  of  Fires 

Total  Number  Acres 
Burned  Over 

Merchantable  Timber 
Destroyed,  M. 

Value  of  Timber 
Destroyed 

Value  of  Young 
Growth  Destroyed 

Value  of  Products 
Destroyed 

Value  of  Improve- 
| ments  Destroyed 

| Cost  of  Fire  Fighting 

Total  Damage 
Reported 

7 

9 

2 

300 

s 

§ 

% 100 

S— - 

.$  100 

7 

12 

1 

20 

30 

80 

8 

3 

3 

2 

20 

'20 

20 

20 

Buncombe...  ... 

18 

8 

16 

31 

2,630 

lio 

550 

3,480 

800 

20 

400 

4,850 

Burke.  .... 

13 

6 

11 

12 

2.400 

130 

650 

1.200 

20 

100 

100 

1,970 

Caldwell- 

12 

10 

19 

14 

850 

120 

600 

6,450 

10.050 

40 

17.100 

Cherokee ... 

6 

5 

7 

21 

1,480 

10 

50 

320 

230 

550 

70 

1,150 

5 

4 

11 

18 

4,520 

110 

4,800 

250 

70 

5,600 

3 

2 

2 

3,300 

10.200 

40 

15,700 

13 

17 

11 

360 

30 

150 

1.100 

700 

300 

1,950 

Henderson.  _ ... 

8 

8 

19 

14 

910 

60 

300 

1.950 

1,900 

700 

210 

4,850 

Jackson.  .. 

15 

9 

13 

24 

4,880 

220 

1,100 

1,500 

7,000 

200 

100 

9,800 

Macon ... 

11 

9 

17 

13 

4.750 

30 

150 

1.300 

500 

300 

50 

2,250 

Madison... 

16 

12 

22 

8 

1,320 

60 

300 

1,300 

400 

100 

60 

2,100 

11 

8 

11 

22 

1,400 

10 

50 

650 

350 

10 

1,050 

10 

8 

9 

2 

10 

50 

50 

Polk 

6 

5 

8 

2 

20 

10 

20 

Rutherford 

14 

8 

13 

24 

790 

100 

500 

1,400 

1,000 

200 

150 

3,100 

14 

11 

29 

27 

160 

610 

150 

20 

760 

4 

1 

1 

3 

14,000 

100 

500 

20.000 

200 

20,500 

Transylvania 

8 

5 

9 

23 

3,550 

50 

250 

8.500 

80.500 

150 

20 

89,400 

Watauga _. 

13 

10 

20 

7 

70 

10 

50 

600 

650 

100 

60 

1,400 

Wilkes  .. 

21 

21 

47 

40 

4,900 

2,800 

14.000 

12,400 

30,000 

500 

540 

56.900 

Yancey 

11 

9 

26 

90 

3,380 

50 

250 

7,100 

10,250 

1.700 

230 

19,300 

Totals 

262 

181 

351 

416 

56.000 

4,000 

20,000 

85,000 

150,000 

5,000 

2,700 

260,000 

12 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


Table  3.— FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1918 
Summary  of  Reports  from  Correspondents  by  Counties 


Piedmont  Region 


County 

Total  Number  of 
Townships  in  County 

Number  of  Town- 
ships Reporting 

Number  of  Replies 
Received 

Number  of  Fires 

Total  Number  of 
Acres  Burned  Over 

Merchantable  Tim- 
ber Destroyed,  M. 

I Value  of  Timber 
Destroyed 

Value  Young 
Growth  Destroyed 

Value  of  Products 
Destroyed 

Value  of  Improve- 
ments Destroyed 

Cost  of  Fire  Fighting 

ta 

5 — 

14 

7 

15 

3 

110 

S 

S 600 

$ 

S 100 

$ 

$ 700 

Alexander 

8 

5 

6 

3 

1,120 

10 

50 

6,500 

800 

3,500 

210 

10,850 

8 

10 

12 

7 

12 

6 

10 

50 

30 

130 

9 

4 

7 

1 

8 

5 

8 

Chatham  __ 

13 

6 

6 

19 

220 

20 

100 

700 

1,400 

200 

90 

2,400 

11 

9 

14 

11 

30 

100 

100 

10 

210 

17 

10 

18 

21 

80 

300 

50 

250 

80 

600 

7 

7 

11 

4 

100 

250 

100 

350 

7 

4 

4 

5 

110 

100 

100 

14 

9 

12 

12 

20 

150 

500 

500 

1,150 

10 

4 

5 

4 

240 

1,900 

1,900 

6 

4 

6 

6 

200 

400 

400 

9 

7 

9 

20 

310 

10 

50 

800 

5,000 

6,400 

18 

9 

10 

1 

40 

200 

200 

Iredell _ 

16 

6 

ii 

15 

40 

10 

50 

550 

20 

10 

50 

630 

7 

1 

2 

1 

50 

400 

400 

5 

4 

5 

3 

180 

900 

1,000 

2,500 

4,400 

15 

10 

14 

2 

1 

9 

5 

7 

28 

13,160 

100 

500 

26,000 

200 

110 

26,700 

10 

8 

14 

23 

8,000 

10 

50 

5,600 

5,252 

50 

10,900 

7 

4 

5 

9 

3 

6 

20 

12 

24 

35 

320 

30 

150 

2,000 

550 

10 

2,700 

11 

7 

12 

Rowan...  _ 

14 

9 

18 

17 

190 

200 

1,000 

2,100 

2,200 

1,100 

1,000 

6,400 

10 

6 

9 

7 

130 

300 

160 

10 

460 

9 

4 

5 

1 

5 

100 

800 

500 

1.400 

9 

8 

10 

2 

20 

200 

20 

220 

9 

7 

8 

11 

300 

10 

50 

800 

850 

1,650 

Wake 

19 

ii 

18 

26 

1,000 

1,400 

7,000 

3,000 

500 

10,000 

10 

20, 500 

12 

8 

3 

80 

400 

400 

Yadkin 

9 

9 

14 

18 

60 

20 

100 

500 

50 

150 

70 

800 

Totals 

371 

218 

333 

308 

26,000 

2,000 

10,000 

55,000 

15,000 

23,000 

1,700 

103,000 

Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


13 


Table  4.— FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1918 
Summary  of  Reports  from  Correspondents  by  Counties 
Coastal  Plain  Region 


County 

1 Total  Number  of 
1 Townships  in  County 

Number  of  Town- 
ships Reporting 

Number  of  Replies 
Received 

Number  of  Fires 

Total  Number  Acres 
Burned  Over 

Merchantable  Timber 
| Destroyed,  M. 

1 Value  of  Timber 
Destroyed 

Value  of  Young 
Growth  Destroyed 

Value  of  Products 
Destroyed 

Value  of  Improve- 
ments Destroyed 

Cost  of  Fire  Fighting 

Total  Damage 
Reported 

6 

2 

2 

6 

500 



s 

$2,000 

$ 500 

$ 2,500 

9 

7 

8 

Bladen 

15 

8 

9 

28 

19,450 

960 

4,800 

17,500 

23,500 

5,300 

700 

51,100 

6 

2 

2 

6 

5,000 

300 

1.500 

5,000 

10,000 

16,500 

3 

2 

3 

i 

10 

4 

4 

3 

530 

4 

3 

4 

Columbus 

14 

12 

15 

27 

10,440 

1,200 

6,000 

17, 600 

15,000 

500 

150 

39,100 

9 

4 

7 

7 

500 

11 

4 

5 

7 

300 

200 

1,000 

2,000 

2,500 

5,500 

5 

3 

4 

1 

2,000 

0 

3 

4 

5 

30 

20 

100 

350 

900 

1,350 

Duplin 

5 

10 

10 

31 

7.100 

5,300 

26,500 

70,200 

42,600 

1,000 

600 

140,300 

Edgecombe  ..  - 

14 

7 

8 

26 

3,000 

5,000 

25,000 

11,000 

13,700 

500 

120 

50,200 

4 

5 

4 

9 

6 

6 

350 

20 

100 

2,000 

3,000 

500 

5,600 

12 

7 

8 

66 

40 

1,000 

180 

1,000 

Harnett _ 

13 

9 

11 

23 

28,660 

100 

500 

8,200 

9,500 

500 

100 

18,700 

6 

3 

4 

Hoke 

8 

1 

1 

2 

5.000 

5 

3 

6 

Johnston...  . _ _ 

17 

9 

ii 

19 

400 

60 

300 

2.000 

2,000 

200 

100 

4,500 

Jones  . 

7 

3 

4 

14 

6,500 

580 

2,900 

12,600 

22,500 

1,400 

150 

39, 400 

Lenoir  ...  .. 

12 

5 

5 

14 

600 

20 

100 

2,400 

5,000 

2,000 

200 

9,500 

10 

3 

3 

2 

150 

300 

100 

400 

10 

12 

1,400 

20 

100 

2,000 

18,600 

150 

20,700 

9 

6 

8 

4 

1.220 

1,300 

300 

30 

1,600 

Onslow. ._  . 

5 

3 

6 

7 

3,500 

40 

200 

2,200 

5,000 

1,000 

30 

8,400 

5 

4, 

4 

6 

3 

10 

4 

6 

13 

400 

5,050 

5,050 

3 

3 

Pitt ...  . 

12 

7 

9 

12 

1,600 

500 

2,500 

3,100 

7, 500 

5,400 

200 

18,500 

Richmond 

7 

4 

6 

19 

5,000 

200 

1,000 

1,800 

5,300 

4,400 

90 

12,500 

25 

12 

13 

10 

2,300 

20 

100 

2,500 

3,000 

5,600 

Sampson.. 

16 

6 

8 

22 

5, 700 

400 

2,000 

7,200 

8,000 

1,800 

600 

19,000 

4 

1 

2 

5 

4 

4 

1 

4 

3 

10 

6 

10,000 

40 

200 

10,000 

10,200 

12 

5 

6 

5 

330 

20 

100 

5,700 

5,800 

10 

3 

Totals 

385 

201 

256 

412 

122,000 

15,000 

75,000 

182,000 

210,000 

26,000 

3,400 

493,000 

14 


Fokest  Fires  in  [North  Carolina 


While  the  area  burnt  is  an  increase  over  1917  it  is  considerably  less 
than  the  average  of  the  past  six  years.  The  number  of  fires  is  also  less. 
The  total  damage  reported  was  far  below  the  two  succeeding  years  and 
less  than  two-thirds  of  the  average. 

FOREST  FIRES  DURING  THE  YEAR  1919 

The  fire  seasons  of  1919  were  on  the  whole  short  and  not  severe.  The 
spring  fire  season  began  about  the  middle  of  March  and  ended  about  the 
middle  of  May.  However,  the  month  of  April  was  showery  and  only 
a few  fires  occurred,  chiefly  toward  the  latter  part  of  the  month.  May 
was  showery  over  the  greater  part  of  the  State,  though  fires  occurred  in 
some  places.  The  Federal  Patrolmen  were  appointed  the  last  week  in 
March  and  the  first  week  in  April.  All  but  one,  who  was  in  an  espe- 
cially dangerous  district,  were  taken  off  duty  the  middle  of  May. 

The  fall  fire  season  began  in  September,  which  was  exceedingly  dry. 
However,  as  killing  frosts  did  not  occur  until  November,  except  in  the 
high  mountains,  there  was  little  danger  from  fires  previous  to  this  date. 
From  [November  1 until  December  6 the  weather  was  dry,  but  occasional 
showers  greatly  reduced  the  number  of  serious  fires.  There  was  little 
danger  after  December  6,  although  the  last  week  in  December  was  dry 
and  some  fires  occurred  even  then.  Five  Federal  Patrolmen  were 
appointed  the  second  week  in  [November,  the  sixth  one  having  been  put 
on  October  15.  They  had  all  ceased  work  by  December  16. 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


15 


Table  5.— FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1919 
Summary  of  Reports  from  Correspondents  by  Counties 


Mountain  Region 


County 

1 Total  Number  of 
| Townships  in  County 

Number  of  Town- 
| ships  Reporting 

1 Number  of  Replies 
| Received 

Number  of  Fires 

Total  Number  of 
Acres  Burned  Over 

Merchantable  Tim- 
ber Destroyed,  M. 

Value  of  Timber 
Destroyed 

1 

Value  Young 
| Growth  Destroyed 

Value  of  Products 
Destroyed 

Value  of  Improve- 
ments Destroyed 

| Cost  of  Fire  Fighting 

Total  Damage 
Reported 

Alleghany 

7 

6 

7 

3 

20 

10 

S 50 

S 50 

s 

s 

S-  — 

S 100 

15 

8 

12 

2 

20 

200 

200 

8 

3 

4 

2 

10 

100 

100 

Buncombe 

18 

7 

12 

16 

1,000 

110 

550 

1,400 

500 

150 

550 

2,600 

Burke. 

13 

5 

8 

13 

2,000 

60 

300 

10,500 

7,500 

600 

100 

18,900 

Caldwell 

12 

9 

21 

22 

1,300 

70 

350 

2,200 

800 

50 

120 

3,400 

Cherokee - 

6 

2 

5 

51 

7,000 

100 

500 

8,000 

1.000 

300 

200 

9,800 

Clay.. 

5 

4 

8 

32 

2,100 

140 

700 

8,400 

5.000 

600 

170 

14,700 

Graham 

3 

2 

4 

20 

4,600 

210 

1,050 

2,100 

5,000 

850 

300 

9,000 

Haywood  . 

13 

8 

12 

26 

1,200 

210 

1,050 

2,500 

7,000 

650 

800 

11,200 

Henderson...  .. 

8 

7 

14 

16 

2,200 

50 

250 

9,400 

4,450 

500 

100 

14, 600 

Jackson  _ _ 

15 

9 

11 

75 

3,900 

20 

100 

4,400 

11,000 

300 

180 

15,800 

Macon..  . 

11 

10 

12 

22 

1,700 

120 

600 

2,500 

1,000 

500 

110 

4,600 

Madison . 

16 

11 

19 

12 

10,200 

220 

1,100 

6,800 

25,000 

1,100 

270 

34,000 

11 

7 

8 

16  • 

5,500 

100 

500 

11,900 

1,300 

50 

13,700 

Mitchell.. - 

10 

6 

8 

6 

500 

300 

1,500 

10,000 

50,000 

300 

100 

61,800 

Polk 

6 

6 

12 

18 

3,600 

160 

800 

9,400 

6,800 

500 

17,000 

Rutherford-. 

14 

9 

14 

61 

2,600 

510 

2,550 

15,050 

13,200 

1,200 

270 

32,000 

Surry  . . . 

14 

14 

35 

71 

1,900 

270 

1,350 

22,450 

25,300 

2,100 

120 

51,200 

Swain  ___  

4 

2 

2 

9 

2,000 

200 

1,000 

14,000 

10,000 

3,000 

600 

28,000 

Transylvania 

8 

6 

8 

22 

13,200 

3,000 

15,000 

25,000 

20,000 

5,500 

500 

65,500 

13 

7 

12 

1 

10 

2.000 

2,000 

Wilkes 

21 

18 

38 

22 

1,100 

310 

1,550 

3,200 

1.550 

1,700 

160 

8,000 

Yancey 

11 

9 

14 

24 

340 

30 

150 

750 

2,900 

200 

3,800 

Totals 

262 

175 

300 

562 

68,000 

6,200 

31,000 

170.000 

200,000 

21,000 

5,400 

422,000 

16 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


Table  6.— FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1919 
Summary  of  Reports  from  Correspondents  by  Counties 


Piedmont  Region 


County 

Total  Number  of 
| Townships  in  County 

Number  of  Town- 
ships Reporting 

Number  of  Replies 
Received 

Number  of  Fires 

Total  Number  Acres 
Burned  Over 

Merchantable  Timber 
1 Destroyed,  M. 

Value  of  Timber 
Destroyed 

Value  of  Young 
Growth  Destroyed 

Value  of  Products 
Destroyed 

Value  of  Improve- 
ments Destroyed 

Cost  of  Fire  Fighting 

Total  Damage 
Reported 

14 

8 

13 

3 

10 

s 

$ 50 

S 50 

8 __ 

8 

S 100 

8 

5 

6 

7 

20 

100 

100 

10 

200 

8 

12 

6 

7 

20 

10 

300 

600 

100 

20 

1 000 

9 

5 

6 

12 

20 

100 

50 

10 

150 

8 

5 

8 

Chatham  

13 

5 

6 

9 

90 

20 

100 

600 

500 

1,000 

70 

2,200 

11 

6 

13 

2 

20 

500 

500 

17 

13 

16 

5 

20 

200 

200 

7 

4 

6 

3 

20 

100 

1,000 

1,100 

7 

5 

6 

6 

350 

200 

200 

14 

9 

13 

9 

50 

500 

150 

750 

1.400 

10 

4 

5 

6 

3 

4 

1 

300 

600 

10 

600 

9 

6 

8 

11 

100 

20 

100 

800 

1,000 

100 

1,900 

18 

11 

13 

14 

100 

80 

400 

600 

500 

1,500 

16 

5 

11 

1 

30 

10 

50 

200 

500 

100 

850 

Lee 

7 

2 

6 

9 

10 

20 

100 

50 

500 

50 

250 

700 

5 

3 

6 

1 

15 

9 

11 

26 

20 

100 

10 

150 

10 

8 

29 

16,900 

240 

1,200 

26,200 

11,600 

600 

39.000 

9 

4 

20 

10,300 

1,500 

2,200 

800 

150 

4,500 

7 

4 

5 

2 

100 

200 

200 

9 

4 

6 

Randolph _ 

20 

13 

23 

34 

700 

120 

600 

4,600 

1,500 

1,300 

150 

8,000 

11 

9 

11 

3 

30 

10 

1,500 

1,000 

14 

6 

13 

10 

220 

600 

200 

1,300 

2.100 

10 

5 

7 

12 

40 

10 

300 

250 

600 

Stokes 

9 

5 

7 

ii 

700 

60 

300 

3,000 

2,500 

700 

600 

6,500 

9 

6 

8 

9 

4 

1 

50 

1,000 

1,000 

Wake.... 

19 

10 

14 

10 

720 

10 

50 

10,600 

5,300 

1,050 

20 

17,000 

12 

6 

8 

4 

20 

500 

100 

200 

800 

9 

7 

13 

12 

50 

200 

200 

1,600 

2,000 

Totals 

371 

205 

304 

287 

31.000 

600 

3,000 

55,000 

30,000 

9,000 

2,000 

97,000 

Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


17 


Table  7.— FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1919 
Summary  of  Reports  from  Correspondents  by  Counties 


Coastal  Plain  Region 


County 

Total  Number  of 
Townships  in  County 

Number  of  Town- 
ships Reporting 

Number  of  Replies 
Received 

Number  of  Fires 

Total  Number  of 
Acres  Burned  Over 

Merchantable  Tim- 
ber Destroyed,  M. 

Value  of  Timber 
Destroyed 

Value  Young 
Growth  Destroyed 

Value  of  Products 
Destroyed 

Value  of  Improve- 
ments Destroyed 

bo 

rC 

to 

& 

s 

o 

o 

O 

Total  Damage 
Reported 

Beaufort 

6 

5 

8 

51 

1,600 

180 

$ 900 

S12.600 

86,500 

§11,000 

S400 

831,000 

9 

6 

7 

15 

620 

100 

500 

4,000 

25,000 

2,000 

31  500 

15 

6 

8 

14 

12,000 

1,200 

6,000 

19,000 

7,500 

500 

33  000 

6 

1 

1 

1 

1,000 

400 

500 

900 

3 

1 

2 

10 

3 

4 

4 

1,500 

20 

100 

6,200 

1,200 

7,500 

4 

2 

2 

Columbus 

14 

7 

14 

36 

24,500 

2,400 

12,000 

82,000 

13,000 

28,000 

3,600 

135,000 

Craven 

9 

3 

4 

5 

3,500 

100 

500 

5,000 

2,000 

1,000 

100 

8.500 

Cumberland.  _ 

11 

4 

5 

19 

760 

500 

2,500 

12,000 

4,500 

5,000 

900 

24, 000 

5 

2 

3 

5 

2 

3 

20 

2,500 

20 

100 

15,000 

2,000 

17  100 

Duplin 

13 

3 

3 

18 

2,000 

60 

300 

15,000 

9,000 

500 

2,500 

24,800 

Edgecombe. 

14 

6 

8 

8 

1,380 

80 

400 

6,500 

18,200 

100 

45 

25,200 

7 

3 

3 

9 

3 

3 

2 

30 

500 

500 

1,000 

Halifax 

12 

5 

6 

26 

1,500 

100 

500 

7,400 

200 

1,200 

100 

9,300 

Harnett  _ _ _ 

13 

11 

15 

26 

25,800 

20 

100 

12,300 

25,600 

7,000 

100 

45,000 

6 

1 

1 

Hoke  . 

8 

1 

1 

2 

2,000 

1,000 

1 000 

Hyde 

5 

4 

7 

8 

21,300 

1,000 

5,000 

1,000 

10,000 

1,000 

500 

17,000 

Johnston...  

17 

7 

9 

13 

770 

40 

200 

2,600 

2,500 

200 

25 

5,500 

7 

3 

4 

9 

10,200 

80 

400 

20,000 

75,000 

1,600 

97,000 

Lenoir 

12 

5 

7 

17 

1,550 

120 

600 

8,400 

6,000 

1,000 

100 

16,000 

10 

3 

4 

16 

200 

100 

100 

15 

7 

8 

12 

570 

1,200 

5,000 

6,200 

5 

1 

2 

6 

100 

9 

5 

6 

800 

5,500 

10,500 

700 

150 

16,700 

5 

2 

3 

100 

100 

100 

10 

200 

5 

2 

2 

1 

1,000 

100 

500 

2,000 

2,500 

6 

3 

4 

Pender  

10 

6 

7 

31 

14,800 

10,560 

52,800 

14,000 

28,000 

2,500 

300 

97,300 

5 

1 

1 

5 

300 

1,500 

1,500 

3,000 

12 

6 

7 

11 

10 

5,000 

100 

2,100 

50 

7,200 

Richmond 

7 

6 

8 

33 

11,900 

120 

600 

7,900 

8,000 

2,000 

50 

18,500 

Robeson.  .. 

25 

10 

15 

57 

3,600 

80 

400 

15,200 

15,400 

6,000 

520 

37,000 

Sampson,. _ 

16 

7 

8 

18 

5,650 

40 

200 

3,000 

300 

500 

50 

4,000 

4 

5 

4 

5 

4 

3 

4 

12 

6 

9 

4 

230 

20 

100 

1,500 

2,400 

500 

4,500 

Wilson ... 

10 

4 

5 

2 

230 

60 

300 

2,200 

6,000 

8,500 

Totals 

385 

170 

226 

510 

154,000 

17,000 

85,000 

290,000 

280,000 

81,000 

9,500 

736,000 

2 


18 


Forest  Fires  in  Forth  Carolina 


Although  ten  per  cent  less  of  the  townships  sent  in  reports  in  1919 
than  the  previous  year  there  was  a twenty-five  per  cent  increase  in  the 
total  area  burned  over.  The  increasing  value  of  stumpage  and  conse- 
quently of  young  growth  is  seen  in  the  great  increase  in  the  total  damage 
reported,  this  amounting  to  $1,255,000,  two-fifths  of  which  is  injury  to 
young  growth. 

FOREST  FIRES  DURING  THE  YEAR  1920 

There  were  no  general  severe  or  protracted  fire  seasons  during  1920. 
The  spring  was  cold  and  wet;  at  least  two  weeks  later  than  normal. 
Farm  operations  were  late  so  that  the  burning  of  brush  and  rubbish  got 
delayed.  Though  occasional  fires  occurred  in  March — a large  number 
in  the  Sandhills  region — it  was  not  until  April  that  the  wind  and  sun 
brought  about  more  than  ordinarily  hazardous  conditions  and  these  were 
of  short  duration,  owing  to  the  heavy  and  well  distributed  rainfall.  The 
peak  of  the  season  came  from  April  23-25,  in  the  Mountain  and  Pied- 
mont districts,  and  many  serious  fires  occurred  then.  The  fire  season 
continued  through  May  because  of  exceptionally  light,  though  well  dis- 
tributed, rainfall,  though  before  the  end  of  the  month  all  need  for  patrol 
was  at  an  end.  The  first  Federal  Patrolman  was  appointed  March  23 
and  at  the  last  April  22.  All  but  one  were  relieved  of  duty  by  the  end 
of  May. 

The  fall  fire  season  was  exceptionally  late  in  commencing.  There  was 
no  killing  frost,  even  in  the  mountains,  till  October  2,  and  the  first  gen- 
eral killing  frost  occurred  on  October  29  and  30,  which  was  unusually 
late.  Most  of  the  weeds  and  grass  stayed  green  in  the  middle  and 
eastern  parts  of  the  State  till  the  middle  of  November.  It  is  not  till 
the  leaves  have  fallen  and  the  weeds  and  other  vegetation  become  dry 
that  there  is  any  great  danger  from  fire.  This  accounts  for  the  lack  of 
fire  danger  through  October,  which  was  exceptionally  dry,  only  about 
one-quarter  of  the  usual  rainfall  occurring.  Two  short  dry  spells 
occurred  in  November,  one  before  the  11th  and  the  other  ending  with 
general  rains  on  the  28th ; it  was  during  this  latter  period  that  the  worst 
fall  fires  occurred.  There  were  periodic  rains  through  December,  yet 
a number  of  fires  were  reported.  The  patrol  season  lasted  from  about 
November  1 to  the  middle  of  December,  when  all  but  one  of  the  Federal 
Patrolmen  were  laid  off.  The  greater  part  of  their  time  they  were 
engaged  in  more  or  less  educational  work. 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


19 


Table  8—  FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1920. 
Summary  of  Reports  from  Correspondents  by  Counties 


Mountain  Region 


County 

Total  Number  of 
Townships  in  County 

Number  of  Town- 
ships Reporting 

Number  of  Replies 
Received 

Number  of  Fires 

Total  Number  of 
Acres  Burned  Over 

Merchantable  Tim- 
ber Destroyed,  M. 

Value  of  Timber 
Destroyed 

Value  Young 
Growth  Destroyed 

Value  of  Products 
Destroyed 

Value  of  Improve- 
ments Destroyed 

Cost  of  Fire  Fighting 

Total  Damage 
Reported 

7 

6 

9 

4 

6,200 

1,020 

8 5,100 

891,000 

$12,000 

S 6,200 

$ --- 

$114,300 

15 

9 

15 

6 

20 

100 

200 

200 

500 

Avery 

8 

6 

8 

41 

2,500 

160 

800 

6,400 

2,100 

300 

300 

9,600 

Buncombe 

18 

10 

21 

29 

2,510 

100 

500 

6,050 

250 

600 

250 

7,400 

13 

5 

10 

10 

400 

600 

200 

800 

Caldwell .. 

12 

9 

20 

33 

1,900 

500 

2,500 

900 

500 

3,500 

300 

7,400 

Cherokee 

6 

5 

6 

54 

3,640 

60 

300 

1,500 

900 

300 

250 

3,000 

5 

4 

9 

27 

1,770 

70 

350 

12,150 

60,000 

900 

72,500 

Graham 

3 

2 

3 

26 

1,150 

20 

100 

750 

850 

100 

70 

1,800 

13 

8 

13 

17 

1,500 

20 

100 

3,000 

20,200 

600 

23,300 

Henderson 

8 

8 

21 

21 

1,480 

170 

850 

8,800 

1,850 

500 

80 

12,000 

Jackson 

15 

7 

10 

69 

6,210 

10 

50 

450 

600 

400 

50 

1,500 

11 

6 

9 

29 

1,110 

2,000 

1,300 

50 

3,300 

16 

10 

18 

24 

840 

70 

350 

7,550 

500 

1,000 

9,400 

McDowell 

11 

10 

13 

35 

8,100 

90 

450 

16,450 

1,800 

600 

200 

19,300 

Mitchell  ... 

10 

5 

8 

2 

900 

400 

2,000 

19,800 

3,000 

1,000 

200 

25,800 

Polk. 

6 

4 

11 

14 

1,110 

30 

150 

4,250 

700 

200 

5,100 

14 

9 

12 

46 

3,160 

100 

500 

4,700 

5,200 

10,400 

Surry 

14 

11 

23 

25 

2,420 

480 

2,400 

20,100 

1,300 

6,600 

50 

30,400 

Swain  ___ 

4 

3 

4 

19 

4,800 

30 

150 

7,300 

3,050 

300 

400 

10,800 

8 

6 

9 

57 

1,270 

80 

400 

1,750 

550 

250 

2,700 

Watauga 

13 

10 

18 

34 

670 

60 

300 

3,350 

8,050 

3,300 

470 

15,000 

Wilkes 

21 

19 

41 

23 

3,280 

920 

4,600 

11,800 

1,100 

400 

80 

17,900 

Yancey 

11 

9 

18 

13 

2,060 

10 

50 

1,250 

1,000 

1,500 

300 

3,800 

Totals 

262 

181 

329 

658 

59,000 

4,400 

22,000 

232,000 

127,000 

27,000 

5,000 

408,000 

20 


Forest  Fires  in  Forth  Carolina 


* 

Table  9.— FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1920 
Summary  of  Reports  from  Correspondents  by  Counties 


Piedmont  Region 


County 

Total  Number  of 
Townships  in  County 

Number  of  Town- 
ships Reporting 

i Number  of  Replies 
Received 

Number  of  Fires 

Total  Number  of 
Acres  Burned  Over 

Merchantable  Tim- 
ber Destroyed,  M. 

Value  of  Timber 
Destroyed 

Value  Young 
Growth  Destroyed 

Value  of  Products 
Destroyed 

Value  of  Improve- 
ments Destroyed 

tc 

'S 

5 

o 

u* 

£ 

o 

o 

O 

© 

60 

cJ 

”3  ® 

p © 

b*  £3 

14 

10 

14 

1 

30 

$ 

s 500 

$ 100 

s 

8.. 

S 600 

8 

3 

4 

8 

2 

2 

6 

550 

30 

150 

10,200 

10,400 

Cabarrus. 

12 

8 

12 

29 

210 

40 

200 

3,600 

6,200 

4,200 

250 

14,200 

9 

6 

7 

9 

100 

10 

50 

250 

300 

8 

5 

7 

4 

40 

20 

100 

200 

1,000 

1,300 

Chatham 

13 

6 

6 

17 

200 

10 

50 

6,150 

3,700 

5,000 

50 

14,900 

11 

6 

14 

14 

100 

300 

600 

10 

900 

17 

10 

15 

5 

170 

800 

200 

50 

1,000 

7 

6 

6 

1 

100 

300 

300 

7 

4 

5 

1 

5 

50 

150 

200 

14 

8 

12 

3 

30 

150 

50 

200 

10 

4 

4 

4 

130 

20 

100 

1.500 

5,500 

1,000 

8,100 

6 

5 

8 

7 

1.010 

1,000 

1,000 

9 

7 

9 

8 

60 

500 

500 

18 

7 

8 

5 

30 

10 

50 

600 

16 

6 

11 

7 

3 

4 

9 

200 

600 

600 

5 

4 

9 

15 

6 

10 

5 

15 

200 

200 

100 

500 

10 

10 

19 

36 

2,650 

570 

2,850 

8,750 

8,000 

30 

19,600 

Moore 

9 

8 

48 

109 

25,000 

160 

800 

44,200 

200 

4,800 

1,000 

50,000 

7 

4 

5 

3 

40 

50 

250 

950 

50 

1,200 

9 

3 

4 

4 

260 

10 

50 

550 

600 

Randolph...  _ 

20 

14 

26 

34 

370 

170 

850 

1,200 

250 

300 

50 

2,600 

11 

9 

17 

14 

90 

50 

250 

2,150 

1,500 

3,900 

14 

6 

11 

14 

400 

300 

700 

10 

6 

8 

8 

20 

100 

100 

9 

3 

4 

5 

60 

1,100 

200 

1.100 

9 

6 

7 

3 

100 

10 

100 

9 

6 

8 

13 

280 

300 

300 

Wake 

19 

9 

12 

16 

600 

30 

150 

4,850 

12,000 

1,000 

200 

18,000 

12 

6 

8 

33 

520 

3,700 

1 . 500 

1 . 500 

50 

6,700 

Yadkin 

9 

8 

17 

10 

80 

20 

100 

1,100 

200 

100 

1,500 

Totals  _ 

371 

214 

361 

430 

33,000 

1,200 

6,000 

96,000 

42,000 

18,000 

2,000 

162.000 

Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


21 


Table  10.— FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1920 
Summary  of  Reports  from  Correspondents  by  Counties 


Coastal  Plain  Region 


County 

1 Total  Number  of 
1 Townships  in  County 

Number  of  Town- 
| ships  Reporting 

Number  of  Replies 
Received 

Number  of  Fires 

Total  Number  of 
Acres  Burned  Over 

Merchantable  Tim- 
| ber  Destroyed,  M. 

Value  of  Timber 
Destroyed 

1 Value  Young 
| Growth  Destroyed 

Value  of  Products 
Destroyed 

Value  of  Improve- 
ments Destroyed 

Cost  of  Fire  Fighting 

Total  Damage 
Reported 

Beaufort 

6 

i 

i 

32 

400 

100 

S 500 

SI, 000 

§2,000 

$5,000 

§500 

s 8,500 

9 

5 

6 

2 

70 

250 

1,250 

350 

80 

1 600 

15 

7 

9 

5 

1,110 

150 

1,550 

2,000 

50 

4,300 

6 

1 

1 

2 

20 

3 

1 

2 

10 

3 

3 

22 

550 

10 

50 

3,950 

7,000 

11,000 

4 

2 

4 

2 

40 

200 

200 

Columbus 

14 

9 

14 

56 

12,000 

300 

1,500 

8,100 

5,600 

3,400 

800 

18,600 

9 

4 

6 

14 

1,000 

100 

500 

500 

100 

1,000 

11 

7 

9 

6 

3,320 

300 

1,500 

2,000 

300 

100 

3.800 

5 

3 

4 

3 

5 

4 

80 

10 

50 

100 

Duplin... 

13 

4 

5 

13 

1,280 

110 

550 

9,350 

2,000 

1,000 

100 

12,900 

14 

7 

11 

10 

930 

20 

100 

3,400 

2,200 

5,700 

7 

4 

4 

9 

3 

3 

2 

50 

300 

300 

12 

6 

6 

4 

70 

50 

50 

10 

100 

Harnett 

13 

9 

14 

14 

16,580 

160 

800 

11,000 

1,900 

1,800 

200 

15,500 

6 

3 

4 

8 

3 

3 

6 

2,100 

160 

800 

1,800 

200 

10 

2,800 

5 

3 

8 

3 

1,500 

100 

500 

1,000 

1,000 

500 

2,500 

17 

9 

14 

26 

150 

800 

1,100 

25,000 

10 

26,900 

7 

4 

4 

6 

50 

1,000 

2,000 

25,000 

28,000 

12 

2 

2 

4 

500 

10 

50 

50 

100 

10 

4 

5 

6 

600 

10 

50 

1,650 

3,000 

10,300 

15,000 

3 

3 

2 

520 

1,100 

1,100 

5 

Northampton 

9 

6 

8 

35 

600 

20 

100 

200 

100 

30 

400 

5 

3 

3 

11 

4,000 

10 

50 

1,000 

150 

100 

1,300 

5 

6 

6 

8 

Pender 

10 

6 

8 

82 

10,300 

30,100 

150,500 

15,100 

70,500 

300 

300 

236,400 

5 

2 

2 

1 

100 

12 

5 

8 

8 

1,540 

20 

100 

27,000 

2,000 

29,100 

Richmond 

7 

7 

10 

47 

6,850 

560 

2,800 

11,200 

8,700 

2,700 

200 

25,400 

Robeson 

25 

9 

16 

34 

2,820 

300 

1,500 

38,400 

5,300 

500 

100 

45,700 

Sampson 

16 

7 

19 

18 

5,300 

480 

2,400 

12,500 

21,000 

6,200 

260 

42,100 

Scotland.  ..  ... 

4 

4 

4 

17 

3,450 

100 

500 

20,100 

112,500 

1,500 

100 

134,600 

5 

2 

3 

2 

30 

1,000 

1,000 

4 

2 

3 

18 

20,000 

10,000 

10,000 

12 

5 

8 

2 

30 

10 

50 

100 

450 

600 

Wilson 

10 

5 

5 

3 

60 

10 

50 

250 

1,000 

100 

1,400 

Totals 

385 

179 

253 

519 

98,000 

33,400 

167,000 

186,000 

252,000 

83,000 

4,000 

688,000 

Although  only  slightly  more  than  half  the  townships  in  the  State 
reported  in  1920,  yet  there  was  a decided  increase  in  the  number  of  forest 
fires;  but  this  is  counterbalanced  by  the  very  gratifying  reduction  in 


22 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


area  burnt  over.  In  spite  of  this  reduction  the  total  reported  damage 
mounted  up  to  last  year’s  figure,  or  $1,258,000,  only  very  little  below 
tbe  average  for  tbe  six-year  period. 

REVIEW  OF  THE  PAST  THREE  YEARS 

Looking  back  over  tbe  past  three  years  we  see  a gradual  increase  in  tbe 
total  number  of  fires  and  also  in  tbe  total  damage  reported.  Tbe  former 
is  probably  due  to  more  careful  reporting  and  attention  to  tbe  small  fires 
rather  than  to  any  actual  increase.  The  latter  may  undoubtedly  he 
attributed  to  the  gradual  rise  in  the  stumpage  value  of  timber  and  the 
growing  realization  that  young  growth  has  a very  real  actual  as  well  as 
prospective  value. 

The  patrolled  areas,  of  which  unfortunately  there  were  very  few,  had 
a less  number  of  fires  and  showed  a marked  diminution  in  the  total 
damage  per  fire. 

Table  11.— FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA 
Summary  of  Reports  from  Correspondents  by  Regions  for  the  Three  Years  1918, 1919,  and  1920 


Mountain 


1918 

1919 

1920 

Average 
for  Six 
Years 

Total  number  of  townships  in  region 

262 

262 

262 

262 

Number  of  townships  reporting 

181 

175 

181 

187 

Number  of  replies  received 

351 

300 

329 

333 

Number  of  forest  fires  reported 

416 

562 

658 

606 

Total  area  burned  over,  in  acres. 

56,000 

68,000 

59,000 

102,000 

Total  standing  timber  destroyed  in  M.  feet  board 
measure 

4,000 

6,200 

4,400 

12,400 

Value  of  timber  destroyed... 

$ 20,000 

S 31,000 

$ 22,000 

8 54,000 

Value  young  growth  destroyed 

85,000 

170,000 

232,000 

146,000 

Value  forest  products  destroyed 

150,000 

200,000 

127,000 

130,000 

Value  improvements  destroyed 

5,000 

21.000 

27,000 

24,000 

Total  damage  reported _ 

260,000 

422,000 

408,000 

355,000 

Cost  to  private  individuals  to  fight  fires 

2,700 

5,400 

5,000 

8,200 

Piedmont 


1918 

1919 

1920 

Average 
for  Six 
Years 

Total  number  of  townships  in  region 

371 

371 

371 

371 

Number  of  townships  reporting 

218 

205 

214 

214 

Number  of  replies  received ._  ...  

333 

304 

361 

323 

Number  of  forest  fires  reported 

308 

287 

430 

383 

Total  area  burned  over,  in  acres . 

26,000 

31,000 

33,000 

34,000 

Total  standing  timber  destroyed  in  M.  feet  board 
measure.  

2,000 

600 

1,200 

2,100 

Value  of  timber  destroyed 

$ 10,000 

$ 3,000 

$ 60,000 

$ 16,000 

Value  young  growth  destroyed 

55,000 

55,000 

96,000 

59,000 

Value  forest  products  destroyed 

15,000 

30,000 

42,000 

36,000 

Value  improvements  destroyed 

23,000 

9,000 

18,000 

15,000 

Total  damage  reported 

103,000 

97,000 

162,000 

126,000 

Cost  to  private  individuals  to  fight  fires 

1,700 

2,000 

2,000- 

2,300 

Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


23 


Table  11—  FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA— Continued 
Summary  of  Reports  from  Correspondents  by  Regions  for  the  Three  Years  1918, 1919,  and  1920 

Coastal  Plain 


1918 

1919 

1920 

Average 
for  Six 
Years 

Total  number  of  townships  in  region 

385 

385 

385 

385 

Number  of  townships  reporting 

201 

170 

179 

198 

Number  of  replies  received ..  _ __ 

256 

226 

253 

266 

Number  of  forest  fires  reported 

412 

510 

519 

563 

Total  area  burned  over,  in  acres 

122,000 

154,000 

98,000 

224,000 

Total  standing  timber  destroyed,  in  M.  feet  board 
measure - _ 

15,000 

17,000 

33,400 

48,000 

Value  of  timber  destroyed.  . ...  ..  . . ... 

S 75,000 

S 85,000 

S 167,000 

$ 181,000 

Value  of  young  growth  destroyed _ 

182,000 

290,000 

186,000 

255,000 

Value  forest  products  destroyed..  ......  . 

210,000 

280,000 

252,000 

349,000 

Value  improvements  destroyed . 

26,000 

81,000 

83,000 

97,000 

Total  damage  reported . ... 

493,000 

736,500 

688,000 

882,000 

Cost  to  private  individuals  to  fight  fires 

3,400 

9,500 

4,000 

10,600 

State 


1918 

1919 

1920 

Average 
for  Six 
Years 

Total  number  of  townships  in  region . 

1,018 

600 

1,018 

550 

1,018 

574 

1,018 

599 

940 

830 

943 

922 

1,136 

1,359 

1,607 

1,552 

204,000 

253,000 

190,000 

360,000 

Total  standing  timber  destroyed,  in  M.  feet  board 

21,000 

23,800 

39,000 

62,500 

S 105,000 

S 119,000 

$ 195,000 

$ 251,000 

322,000 

515,000 

514,000 

460,000 

375,000 

510,000 

421,000 

515.000 

54,000 

111,000 

128,000 

136,000 

856,000 

1,255,000 

1,258,000 

1,363,000 

7,800 

16,900 

11,000 

21,100 

SIZE  OF  FIRES 

The  Federal  Government  in  reporting  forest  fires  has  for  some  years 
classified  them  according  to  their  area.  The  proportion  of  small  fires 
to  large  should  eventually  be  a good  index  of  the  efficiency  of  the  forest 
fire  warden  system.  Fires  will  occur  as  long  as  careless  people  are 
allowed  to  go  near  the  woods  and  permitted  to  carry  matches ; but  if 
such  fires  can  be  prevented  from  becoming  large  fires,  damage  will  be 
reduced  to  a minimum.  The  following  table  (No.  12)  is  based  upon 
the  Federal  Forest  Service  classification,  in  vdiich  “A”  fires  are  less 
than  one-fourth  acre  in  extent ; “B”  fires  are  from  one-fourth  acre  to 
ten  acres  in  extent;  and  “C”  fires  are  ten  acres  and  over  in  extent. 


24 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


Table  12— CLASSIFICATION  BY  SIZE  OF  FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING 
THE  THREE  YEARS  1918,  1919,  AND  1920,  IN  PERCENTAGES 


Mountain 

Piedmont 

Coastal  Plain 

State 

A 

17 

26 

15 

18 

B_ 

26 

37 

26 

29 

C — 

57 

37 

59 

53 

PROGRESS  OF  PROTECTION 

Although  the  greater  proportion  of  the  fires  are  no  doubt  included  in 
these  reports,  still  many  fires  in  the  aggregate  must  occur  in  those  town- 
ships for  which  no  reports  are  received.  The  total  number  of  fires 
reported,  therefore,  cannot  be  used  as  an  indication  of  accomplishment 
in  forest  protection.  A much  more  reliable  index  of  the  results  of  the 
publicity  and  educational  work  done  and  the  progress  of  forest  fire 
prevention  is  furnished  in  the  average  damage  reported  per  acre  burned 
over  and  the  average  area  of  each  fire  reported.  The  following  table 
shows  the  gradual  though  not  very  regular  trend  of  values  in  an  upward 
direction  through  the  past  twelve  years  and  the  gradual  and  decided 
reduction  in  the  average  area  of  the  forest  fires  reported. 


Table  13—  SHOWING . INCREASE  THROUGH  TWELVE-YEAR  PERIOD  IN  AVERAGE 
DAMAGE  PER  ACRE  BURNED  OVER  AND  DECREASE  IN  AVERAGE 
AREA  OF  EACH  FIRE 


Average  Damage 
per  Acre  Burned 
Over — Dollars 

Average  Area 
of  Each  Fire 
Reported — Acres 

Annual 

Three-year 

Period 

Annual 

Three^year 

Period 

1909 

S 0.66] 

668] 

1910. 

.97 

$ 1.48 

594 

493 

1911 

2.80 

217 

1912 

1.76 

926 

1913 

2.18 

1.99 

587 

658 

1914 

2.03 

462 

1915 

1.20 

358 

1916 

3.73 

3.40 

442 

290 

1917 

5.26 

701 

1918 

4. 20* 

180 

1919 

4.56 

5.13 

181 

160 

1920 

6. 63  J 

119  J 

CAUSES  OF  FOREST  FIRES 

The  portion  of  the  annual  reports  from  correspondents  dealing  with 
the  causes  of  forest  fires  is  perhaps  the  most  interesting  part  of  the  whole 
report,  because  it  is  in  a way  a study  of  the  mental  attitude  of  the  popu- 
lation of  the  different  parts  of  the  State  towards  forest  fires,  and  inci- 
dentally towards  many  other  live  problems.  Perhaps  the  most  remark- 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


25 


able  feature  of  tbe  following  table  is  its  close  similarity  to  the  table 
printed  on  page  27  of  Economic  Paper,  No.  48,  published  in  1918,  show- 
ing the  causes  of  fires  for  the  previous  tliree-year  period. 

The  average  for  the  past  six  years,  as  seen  in  Table  13,  is  very  little 
different  from  three-year  average  given  in  the  above  report. 


Table  14.— CAUSES  OF  FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA 
Averages  for  the  Three  Years  1918, 1919,  and  1920,  and  for  the  Past  Six  Years  in  Percentage  s 


Causes 

Mountain 

Piedmont 

Coastal  Plain 

State 

oo 

05 

o 

C5 

o 

cu 

05 

Average  for 
Six  Years 

1918 

1919 

1920 

Average  for 
Six  Years 

1918 

05 

05 

o 

CM 

05 

Average  for 
Six  Years 

GO 

05 

05 

05 

o 

05 

1 Average  for 
| Six  Years 

Brush  burning  .. 

24 

20 

18 

24 

34 

36 

40 

37 

27 

22 

27 

23 

27 

24 

27 

27 

Hunters . _ . 

12 

13 

12 

13 

13 

11 

7 

8 

9 

13 

6 

9 

11 

12 

12 

11 

Campers  _ __  ___  __. 

1 

4 

7 

3 

4 

3 

3 

3 

1 

3 

2 

2 

2 

4 

4 

3 

Railroads 

12 

19 

11 

14 

17 

18 

18 

20 

17 

17 

19 

18 

15 

19 

18 

17 

Lumbering ______  _ 

20 

4 

19 

13 

6 

6 

12 

9 

22 

12 

12 

16 

17 

8 

14 

13 

Incendiary. __  _ __  . 

11 

10 

6 

7 

2 

2 

5 

3 

4 

8 

5 

6 

6 

8 

5 

6 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

Miscellaneous 

2 

2 

7 

3 

8 

4 

7 

6 

4 

4 

6 

5 

5 

3 

7 

4 

Unknown 

18 

27 

20 

22 

15 

19 

7 

13 

14 

20 

22 

20 

16 

21 

12 

18 

Forest  fires  caused  by  brush  burning  still  lead  in  number  and  impor-  ^ 
tance.  These  fires  will  continue  to  be  most  numerous  until  forest 
wardens  can  be  placed  all  over  the  State,  so  that  they  can  come  into 
contact  with  every  rural  resident  and  gradually  train  them  to  he  more 
careful  in  handling  fire.  The  same  excuse  is  nearly  always  given, ' 
namely  that  the  fire  was  thought  to  be  out  but  was  really  left  before 
it  was  out  and  a wind  coming  up  in  the  afternoon  or  the  next  day  fire 
was  blown  out  to  the  woods. 

There  is  a slight  increase  in  incendiary  fires  which  may  be  due  to  the 
apparent  increase  in  illicit  distilling  in  the  State.  Several  correspond- 
ents mentioned  this  as  a cause  for  forest  fires.  One  correspondent 
reports  from  FEenderson  County:  “We  have  one  or  more  fires  each  year 
back  in  the  mountains,  without  doubt  set  by  blockaders  to  hide  their 
smoke.  We  have  so  far  failed  to  catch  them  in  the  act.”  From  Wilkes 
and  Chatham  counties  also  fires  are  reported  which  were  probably  set  by 
“moonshiners.” 

Another  cause  for  incendiary  fires  has  been  ranging  cattle  in  free 
range  territory.  One  correspondent  in  Jackson  County,  who  apparently 
thinks  it  advisable  to  burn  the  woods  as  a help  to  the  pasture,  says  “most 
all  of  the  fires  are  caused  by  stock  rangers  to  keep  down  filth  (namely, 
undergrowth.)”  A correspondent  from  Craven  County  writes:  “It  is  in 
the  free  range  or  no  fence  district  that  most  of  our  fires  occur.  The 
trifling  negroes  (in  most  districts  it  is  not  confined  to  the  negro  race) 


26 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


that  own  a few  starved  cattle  set  fire  to  the  dry  grass  in  the  woods  or  cut- 
over lands  so  that  their  cattle  may  be  able  to  get  at  the  first  sprigs  of 
grass  that  get  an  inch  high.  If  we  could  get  stock  law  that  would  prac- 
tically eliminate  our  forest  fires.” 

The  Survey  and  the  North  Carolina  Forestry  Association  have  been 
strongly  advocating  State-wide  stock  law  for  many  years,  realizing  that 
the  free  ranging  of  cattle  was  a fruitful  source  for  forest  fires.  Now 
that  the  Legislature  has  passed  this  measure  and  cattle  and  hogs  can  no 
longer  run  at  large,  many  of  these  fires  will  cease,  and  the  cut-over  lands 
will  have  a better  chance  of  coming  back  to  profitable  pine  timber. 

Amongst  the  causes  of  fires  classed  as  miscellaneous,  perhaps  the  most 
frequent  is  carelessness  with  matches,  cigars,  cigarettes,  pipes,  etc.  A 
correspondent  from  the  Sandshills  region  writes : “ We  have  more  forest 

fires  from  people  riding  along  the  roads.  One  striking  a match  lights 
his  cigar  and  throws  the  match  out  on  the  side  of  the  road — this  is  one 
chance  of  a fire.  He  then  throws  out  the  stub  when  through  smoking, 
which  is  another  chance  of  a fire  from  the  same  match.  Most  of  our 
fires  start  along  the  public,  highway.” 

Recently  an  automobile  load  of  men  drove  up  in  front  of  the  State 
Forester’s  residence  to  take  on  a passenger  and  in  two  or  three  minutes 
a fierce  fire  was  discovered  burning  in  the  leaves  by  the  side  of  the  road. 
The  weather  was  dry  and  the  wind  high.  In  a few  minutes  more  the 
fire  might  have  been  beyond  control  and  much  damage  done.  Undoubt- 
edly this  fire  was  set  by  the  carelessness  of  a man  throwing  away  a match 
or  cigar  stub. 

Children  playing  with  matches  is  another  fruitful  source  of  forest 
fires.  One  of  the  most  destructive  fires  reported  from  the  mountain 
region  during  1920,  causing  some  $50,000  damage,  was  caused  from 
“children  played  they  were  burning  off  tomato  beds.  The  weather  was 
very  dry  and  the  wind  high.”  Another  fire  in  Duplin  County  was 
caused  by  children  playing  with  matches  at  a schoolhouse.  Parents  and 
teachers  should  emphasize  the  danger  not  only  to  the  woods  but  to  the 
children  themselves  through  playing  with  matches. 

Another  cause  of  fires,  classed  as  miscellaneous,  is  catching  out  from 
the  open  fire  near  the  spring,  which  is  used  with  the  weekly  wash.  The 
wash  usually  has  to  be  done  on  a certain  day  in  the  week  whether  or  not 
the  wind  is  high  and  the  leaves  dry.  It  would  be  much  better  to  post- 
pone the  wash  for  a day  rather  than  set  fire  to  the  woods.  However,  by 
making  a closed  fireplace  under  the  wash-pot  such  danger  could  he  prac- 
tically eliminated. 

LAWS  AGAINST  BURNING  THE  WOODS 

After  the  passage  of  the  Forest  Fire  Law  by  the  General  Assembly  of 
1915,  little  forestry  legislation  was  enacted  until  the  winter  of  1921. 
In  1919,  how'ever,  an  amendment  to  the  Revisal  was  passed  which  in 


Forest  Fires  in  ISTorth  Carolina 


27 


many  parts  of  the  State  may  have  an  excellent  effect  in  preventing  the 
setting  of  unlawful  fires.  It  was  first  published  as  chapter  318  of 
the  Public  Laws  of  1919,  but  is  now  incorporated  in  the  Consolidated 
Statutes  of  Horth  Carolina,  as  the  last  sentence  of  section  4309,  chapter 
82  : It  reads  as  follows : 

“Any  person  who  shall  furnish  to  the  State  evidence  sufficient  for  the  con- 
viction of  a violation  of  this  statute  shall  receive  the  sum  of  twenty  dollars  to 
be  taxed  as  part  of  the  court  costs.” 

The  section  mentioned  above,  to  which  the  amendment  has  been  added 
as  a last  sentence,  refers  to  “setting  fire  to  grass  and  brush  lands  and 
woodlands”  and  corresponds  with  section  8 of  the  forest  fire  law,  chapter 
243,  Public  Laws  of  1915.  For  the  convenience  of  the  general  reader  the 
State  Law  against  burning  the  woods  is  here  given  in  its  new  form,  for 
the  Consolidated  Statutes  now  takes  the  place  of  the  Revisal  of  1905 
and  the  earlier  Code. 

intentional  fires 

Section  4309.  Setting  fire  to  grass  and  brush  lands  and  woodlands.  If 
any  person  shall  intentionally  set  fire  to  any  grass  land,  brush  land  or 
woodland,  except  it  be  his  own  property,  or  in  that  case  without  first  giving 
notice  to  all  persons  owning  or  in  charge  of  lands  adjoining  the  land 
intended  to  be  fired,  and  without  also  taking  care  to  watch  such  fire  while 
burning  and  to  extinguish  it  before  it  shall  reach  any  lands  near  to  or 
adjoining  the  lands  so  fired,  he  shall  for  every  such  offense  be  guilty  of 
a misdemeanor  and  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  ten  dollars  nor  more  than 
fifty  dollars,  or  imprisoned  not  exceeding  thirty  days.  This  section  shall 
not  prevent  an  action  for  the  damages  sustained  by  the  owner  of  any  prop- 
erty from  such  fires.  For  the  purposes  of  this  section  the  term  “wood- 
land” is  to  be  taken  to  include  all  forest  areas,  both  timber  and  cut-over 
land,  and  all  second  growth  stands  on  areas  that  have  at  one  time  been 
cultivated.  Any  person  who  shall  furnish  to  the  State  evidence  sufficient 
for  the  conviction  of  a violation  of  this  statute  shall  receive  the  sum  of 
twenty  dollars  to  be  taxed  as  part  of  the  court  costs. 

CARELESS  AND  ACCIDENTAL  FIRES 

Section  4311.  Setting  fire  to  woodlands  and  grass  lands  with  camp- 
fires. Any  wagoner,  hunter,  camper  or  other  person  who  shall  kindle 
a camp-fire  or  shall  authorize  another  to  kindle  such  fire,  unless  all  com- 
bustible material  for  the  space  of  ten  feet  surrounding  the  place  where 
such  a fire  is  kindled  has  been  removed,  or  shall  leave  a camp-fire  without 
fully  extinguishing  it,  or  who  shall  accidentally  or  negligently  by  the  use 
of  any  torch,  gun,  match,  or  other  instrumentality,  or  in  any  manner  what- 
ever, start  any  fire  upon  any  grass  land,  brush  land  or  woodland,  without 
fully  extinguishing  the  same,  shall  be  guilty  of  a misdemeanor,  and  upon 
conviction  shall  be  punished  by  a fine  of  not  less  than  ten  dollars  nor 
more  than  fifty  dollars,  or  by  imprisonment  not  exceeding  thirty  days. 
For  the  purposes  of  this  section  the  term  “woodland”  is  to  be  taken  to 
include  all  forest  areas,  both  timber  and  cut-over  land,  and  all  second 
growth  stands  on  areas  that  have  at  one  time  been  cultivated. 


28 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


FIRES  MUST  BE  WATCHED  CAREFULLY 

Section  4312.  Certain  fires  to  be  guarded  by  watchmen.  All  persons, 
firms  or  corporations  who  shall  burn  any  tar  kiln  or  pit  of  charcoal,  or  set 
fire  to  or  burn  any  brush,  grass  or  other  material,  whereby  any  property 
may  be  endangered  or  destroyed,  shall  keep  and  maintain  a careful  and 
competent  watchman  in  charge  of  such  kiln,  pit,  brush  or  other  material 
while  burning.  Any  person,  firm  or  corporation,  violating  the  provisions 
of  this  section  shall  be  punishable  by  a fine  of  not  less  than  ten  dollars  nor 
more  than  fifty  dollars,  or  by  imprisonment  for  not  exceeding  thirty  days. 
Fire  escaping  from  such  kiln,  pit,  brush  or  other  material  while  burning 
shall  be  prima  facie  evidence  of  neglect  of  these  provisions. 

A local  law  (section  4310)  against  “wilfully  or  negligently  setting 
fire  to  woods  and  fields/’  referring  only  to  tire  counties  of  Caldwell, 
Wilkes,  Watauga,  Burke,  McDowell,  Yadkin,  Cherokee  and  Mitchell, 
allows  one-half  the  fine  to  go  to  the  informer,  if  there  be  one. 


FOREST  PROTECTION  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA 


Although  the  Forest  Fire  Law  of  1915  provides  the  machinery  for 
appointing  wardens  “in  each  township  of  the  State  in  which  the  amount 
of  forest  land  and  the  risks  from  forest  fires  shall  . . . make  it 

advisable  and  necessary,”  no  appropriation  was  made  for  carrying  out 
these  provisions.  The  State  Geological  and  Economic  Survey  has,  there- 
fore, had  to  depend  upon  its  own  limited  funds  and  upon  the  small  appor- 
tionment, amounting  to  some  $2,000  annually,  made  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment to  the  State  for  the  payment  of  Federal  Patrolmen.  It  was 
only  possible  to  employ  a few  wardens  and  patrolmen  from  these  avail- 
able funds,  and  efforts  have  been  made  to  secure  additional  funds  through 
cooperation  with  associations  of  landowners  and  with  lumber  companies. 

FEDERAL  PATROLMEN 

Under  the  terms  of  the  agreement,  the  funds  contributed  by  the  Fed- 
eral Government,  under  the  Weeks  Law,  must  be  spent  by  the  State  for 
salaries  of  patrolmen  and  lookouts.  The  money  has,  up  to  this  time, 
been  paid  direct  from  Washington  to  the  patrolmen  themselves  upon 
certification  of  the  State  Forester.  The  amount  has  generally  been 
apportioned  in  such  a way  that  there  has  been  less  to  spend  in  the  spring 
when  the  need  for  it  is  greater  and  more  in  the  fall  when  the  fire  season 
is  usually  shorter.  This  arrangement,  which  has  tended  to  restrict  the 
usefulness  of  the  fund,  is  now  being  changed,  making  the  use  of  the 
money  more  elastic. 

The  following  statement  gives  the  names  of  the  Federal  Patrolmen 
and  the  duration  of  their  appointments  through  the  spring  and  fall  fire 
seasons  during  the  past  three  years. 


FEDERAL  PATROLMEN,  1918 


District 

Name 

Duration  of 
Appointment 

Total 

Days 

Mar.  5-May  10 

66 

Nov.  1-Nov.  30 

30 

Linville _ _ __  

E.  R.  Green 

Mar.  13-May  30 

78 

John  Green 

Oct.  22-Dec.  10 

49 

W.  L.  Ward 

Nov.  1-Dec.  21 

51 

Mar.  7-May  31 

85 

Lawrence  Doubleday.. 

Nov.  11-Dec.  10 

29 

Wilkes  . 

U.  A.  Miller - 

17 

(daily  basis) 

30 


F oeest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


FEDERAL  PATROLMEN,  1919 


District 

Name 

Duration  of 
Appointment 

Total 

Days 

35 

Ed.  T.  Shearer...  ... 

Mar.  24-May  14 

52 

Nov.  10-Dec.  15 

36 

38 

Nov.  6-Dec.  12 

37 

30 

W.  L.  Ward 

64 

Oct.  15-Dec.  15 

61 

52 

Wilkie  Capps 

Nov.  10-Dec.  15 

36 

74 

Nov.  10-Dec.  15 

36 

FEDERAL  PATROLMEN,  1920 


District 

Name 

Duration  of 
Appointment 

Total 

Days 

53 

April  12-May  31 

49 

Oct.  19-Dec.  16 

58 

39 

Nov.  3-Dec.  8 

35 

C.  L.  Wilson 

51 

61 

27 

(daily  basis) 

Nov.  15-Dec.  17 

21 

(daily  basis) 

69 

Nov.  8-Dec.  18 

40 

C.  H.  Colvard.  .. 

Nov.  1-Dec.  17 

47 

STATE  FOREST  WARDENS 

In  addition  to  those  forest  fire  districts  looked  after  by  Federal  Patrol- 
men the  following  five  in  the  middle  and  eastern  part  of  the  State  have 
been  organized  and  partially  patrolled  by  State  Forest  Wardens. 


District 

Forest  Warden 

Postoffice 

Southern  McDowell 

Vein  Mountain. 
Rutherford  ton,  R.  F.  D. 
Wadeville. 

Clinton,  R.  F.  D. 
Clarendon. 

Western  Rutherford __  ..... 

J.  W.  Hardin 

Western  Montgomery 

Southern  Sampson __ 

Southern  Columbus.. 

W.  C.  Gore 

Fokest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


31 


A number  of  other  districts  will  be  organized  during  the  spring  of 

1921. 


A badge  like  above  cut,  showing  the  State  Geological  and  Economic 
Survey  throwing  its  protective  band  around  the  young  shortleaf  pine 
tree,  is  furnished  to  all  State  Forest  Wardens,  who  are  required  to  wear 
it  at  all  times  when  on  duty. 

INSTRUCTIONS  TO  STATE  FOREST  WARDENS 

By  W.  D.  Clark,  Chief  Forest  Fire  Warden 

HOW  FOREST  FIRES  DESTROY  COMMUNITY  VALUES 

The  total  land  area  of  North  Carolina  is  approximately  thirty-one 
million  acres,  of  which  about  two-thirds,  or  twenty  million  acres,  at  the 
present  time,  are  devoted  to  forest  growth.  About  one-fifth  (four  mil- 
lion acres)  of  the  total  forest  area  burned  over  during  the  decade  1910 
to  1920,  causing  a property  damage  conservatively  estimated  at  ten 
million  dollars. 

Such  figures  offer  a sad  commentary  upon  the  manner  in  which  we 
take  care  of  an  invaluable  natural  resource.  The  word  invaluable  is 
used  in  this  connection,  for  who  can  correctly  value  all  the  indirect 
benefits  which  result  from  a healthy  forest  growth  upon  our  mountain 
slopes  and  other  non-agricultural  land  ? The  damage  figures  given  above 
include  simply  the  average  market  value  of  the  products  destroyed.  As 
a matter  of  fact,  the  loss  is  much  more  than  the  value  of  these  products 
for  when  fire  consumes  a farm  woodlot  no  less  than  when  it  consumes 
a large  timbered  tract,  it  destroys  a source  of  employment  for  local 
residents,  and  for  teams  especially  during  the  winter  period,  when 
other  work  is  slack.  It  destroys  local  supplies  of  lumber  for  building 
and  manufacturing  purposes  and  of  wood  for  fuel.  It  necessitates  the 
importation  of  such  products  from  more  distant  points  and  additional 


32 


Forest  Fires  in  ISTorth  Carolina 


charges  for  freight  and  hauling  of  the  same.  The  lack  of  local  supplies 
of  lumber  is  sure  to  drive  away  all  sorts  of  industries  which  depend  upon 
local  wood  supplies  for  their  raw  materials.  This  in  turn  reduces  the 
local  population,  for  it  reduces  local  demand  for  labor.  The  reduction 
of  population  reduces  local  land  values  and  destroys  the  local  market  for 
farm  products  as  well  as  other  products. 

The  value  of  the  land  is  reduced  in  another  way  by  fire,  in  that  the 
productivity  of  the  land  is  reduced.  Every  ground  fire,  no  matter  how 
light,  burns  up  a greater  or  less  amount  of  humus,  which  is  nature’s 
chief  enriching  element.  This  in  turn  drys  out  the  soil  and  makes  it 
more  liable  to  erode  and  wash  away.  Thus,  surface  run  off  during  rains 
is  accelerated  and  deep  seepage  diminished.  During  periods  of  prolonged 
drought  springs  and  streams,  especially  in  mountainous  country,  are  apt 
to  go  dry  and  during  periods  of  heavy  rainfalls  they  rush  in  torrents 
carrying  along  all  manner  of  detritus.  This  is  either  deposited  in  the 
river  channels  lower  down,  where  it  obstructs  navigation  or  the  detritus 
is  spread  over  fertile  flood  plains  destroying  their  agricultural  value. 
Fire  destroys  the  beauty  and  general  recreational  value  of  the  woods.  It 
drives  away  the  birds  and  all  other  wild  life  of  the  forest.  It  diminishes 
the  value  of  the  area  burned  as  a cattle  range.  Although  it  may  cause 
green  shoots  of  grass  to  spring  up  in  the  early  season  it  also  reduces  the 
vitality  of  the  roots  to  spread  and  produce  vigorously  for  the  remainder 
of  the  season  and  kills  entirely  many  other  kinds  of  herbs  which  are 
desirable  cattle  food.  This  may  all  be  summed  up  by  saying  that  forest 
fires  destroy  a balance  of  nature  as  well  as  a balance  of  industry.  They 
can  and  should  be  eliminated,  or  at  least  greatly  reduced  and  controlled. 

HOW  FOREST  FIRES  MAY  BE  REDUCED  IN  SIZE  AND  FREQUENCY 

Any  form  of  wealth  is  worth  protecting  to  the  extent  of  its  value. 
Insurance  companies  as  a rule  are  quite  willing  to  insure  various  forms 
of  property  to  the  full  extent  of  their  value  and  the  rates  they  charge  for 
such  insurance  bears  a direct  relation  to  the  risk  involved.  The  prac- 
tice of  issuing  insurance  on  standing  timber  or  young  forest  growth  has 
never  been  developed  to  any  very  great  extent  in  this  country,  although 
the  proposition  has  been  agitated  more  or  less.  One  serious  obstacle  to 
such  development  has  been  the  prohibitive  rate  which  the  great  risk 
necessitates.  In  other  words,  the  chances  are  so  great  that  standing  tim- 
ber or  young  forest  growth  will  be  destroyed  by  fire  that  no  insurance 
company  is  willing  to  carry  the  risk  except  at  so  high  a rate  that  the 
owner  cannot  afford  to  pay  it.  The  reason  why  insurance  rates  on  town 
and  city  property  are  so  low  is  that  efficient  efforts  are  made  to  prevent 
fires  and  also  to  stop  fires  quickly  when  they  do  break  out.  Comparatively 
little  has  been  done  so  far  either  to  prevent  forest  fires  from  breaking 
out  or  to  extinguish  them  quickly  when  they  do  break  out.  Vigorous 


Forest  Fires  in  ISTorth  Carolina 


33 


efforts  along  both  of  these  lines  must  be  made.  If  frame  structures  are 
worth  protecting  against  fire,  surely  the  source  of  supply  from  which  all 
timber  is  derived  should  be  protected  against  fire.  The  idea  that  forest 
fires  are  inevitable;  that  they  are  bound  to  occur;  that  they  do  not  do 
much  damage  any  way,  and  who  cares,  must  all  be  counteracted.  As 
a matter  of  fact,  the  ultimate  cause  of  practically  all  of  our  serious 
forest  fires  lies  in  just  such  ideas.  It  is  almost  a self-evident  truth  that 
every  one  of  us,  all  the  way  from  our  wooden  cradle  or  wicker  basket 
which  receives  us  at  our  birth  to  the  wooden  coffin  in  which  we  are 
buried  after  death,  is  a beneficiary  both  directly  and  indirectly  of  the 
forest.  If  every  one  of  us  could  be  thoroughly  convinced  that  forest 
fires  are  a wilful  waste;  that  they  are  not  inevitable;  that  most  of  them 
are  the  result  of  rank  carelessness;  that  it  is  no  less  than  a crime  to 
carelessly  permit  one  to  start ; and  furthermore,  that  it  is  an  urgent  pub- 
lic duty  for  every  one  who  sees  a fire  or  hears  of  one  to  do  everything 
reasonable  within  his  or  her  power  to  help  to  extinguish  it,  or  at  least 
to  report  it  at  once  to  those  whose  duty  it  is  to  extinguish  it ; then  and 
not  until  then  will  the  loss  from  forest  fires  become  merely  nominal. 

The  establishment  of  these  facts  is  an  educational  process.  The 
minds  of  our  children  constitute  the  most  fertile  soil  for  the  reception  of 
the  seed.  The  lesson  should,  therefore,  be  taught  in  the  schools.  Sun- 
day schools,  likewise,  might  very  properly  take  it  up,  for  as  forest  fires 
are  a wilful  waste  to  that  extent  it  becomes  immoral  not  to  stop  them. 
The  daily  press  and  all  widely  distributed  periodicals  should  help  to 
spread  the  idea.  It  should  be  propagated  by  the  moving-picture  houses, 
thrown  out  from  the  lecture  platform  and  pulpit  and  by  all  other  dis- 
seminators of  beneficial  ideas. 

Along  with  the  dissemination  of  the  idea  must  go  the  development  of 
an  organization  and  the  acquisition  and  placement  of  equipment  neces- 
sary to  do  the  actual  work  required  in  the  prevention,  control  and 
extinguishment  of  the  fires.  Good  men,  efficient  and  well  organized,  are 
needed  and,  likewise,  good  equipment.  Ultimately  every  township  should 
have  at  least  one  forest  warden  and  more  according  to  its  needs.  Every 
group  of  townships,  perhaps  every  county,  should  have  its  supervising 
warden  and  every  group  of  counties  should  have  its  district  warden. 
These  should  all  be  headed  up  by  a State  Warden,  whose  duty  it  would 
be  to  supervise  the  whole  organization. 

Every  member  of  this  organization  should  be  accessible  by  telephone, 
especially  during  dry  and  dangerous  periods  for  one  of  the  secrets  of 
success  in  any  fire-fighting  organization  is  to  get  reports  of  fire  as  soon 
as  it  breaks  out  in  order  to  get  to  it  with  a crew  and  equipment  and  fight 
before  it  gains  headway.  Good  equipment  is  just  as  essential  as  good 
and  well  organized  men.  Good  soldiers  are  of  little  use  without  good 
arms  and  ammunition.  Likewise  a good  forest-fire  organization  is  of 
3 


34 


Fobest  Fiees  in  Hobth  Cabolina 


little  help  without  good  equipment.  Such  equipment  would  include  axes, 
saws,  rakes,  shovels,  hoes,  buckets,  torches,  and  in  some  instances  chemi- 
cal fire  extinguishers  and  light  auto  trucks.  The  equipment  should  all 
be  located  so  as  to  be  accessible  quickly  whenever  it  may  be  needed.  It 
would  include  a system  of  watch  towers  and  cabins,  located  on  high 
points,  from  which  watchers  could  survey  a wide  expanse  of  territory  and 
detect  fires  by  the  rising  smoke  as  soon  as  they  start.  All  cabins  and 
towers  should  be  connected  by  telephone  lines  and  also  with  the  forest 
wardens’  headquarters,  so  that  they  could  receive  notifications  of  fires 
immediately.  In  this  connection  recent  inventions  in  wireless  telephone 
and  telegraph  systems  are  very  promising,  for  if  the  expense  of  install- 
ing and  wire  connections  can  be  eliminated  communications  between 
inaccessible  places  will  be  greatly  facilitated.  It  would  be  the  duty  of 
the  warden,  upon  receiving  notice  of  a forest  or  grass  fire  within  his 
territory,  to  gather  a crew  and  necessary  tools  and  go  to  the  fire  as 
quickly  as  possible  and  extinguish  it.  The  wardens  should  have  author- 
ity to  commandeer  help,  when  it  is  necessary,  in  order  to  extinguish 
a fire  and  the  State  should  pay  those  commandeered  a reasonable  sum  for 
their  time  and  labor. 

Such  a forest  protective  system  cannot  be  developed  overnight.  It 
grows  and  develops  from  small  beginnings.  A little  development  here 
and  a little  development  there,  then  union  and  organization,  until  the 
entire  forested  area  of  the  State  is  covered  by  a single,  closely  coop- 
erating organization.  In  other  words,  organized  cooperative  effort 
should  be  built  up  and  substituted  for  disorganized  individual  effort. 
Every  forest  warden  in  the  State  has  an  opportunity  to  perform  a very 
important  and  necessary  part  of  such  development  and  he  may  take  con- 
siderable pride  and  satisfaction  in  all  that  he  is  able  to  accomplish 
towards  that  end. 

The  war  on  forest  fires  is  on  in  earnest.  The  battle  line  extends  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  and  from  the  Canadian  boundary  on  the  north 
to  the  Gulf  and  Republic  of  Mexico. 

That  this  demon  of  the  forest  is  bound  to  come  under  subjection  is  as 
certain  as  the  subjection  of  the  malaria-carrying  mosquito  or  yellow 
fever,  once  the  cause  and  effect  and  means  of  subjection  is  known. 

Forest  fires  are  one  of  the  outstanding  signs  of  inexcusable  ineffi- 
ciencies and  insufficiencies  of  our  age.  They  can  and  should  be  stopped : If 
we  become  pessimists  and  confirmed  in  the  belief  that  the  world  is  on 
the  slip-slide  and  doomed  to  the  bow-wows — then  so  be  it!  If  we,  or 
the  majority  of  us,  continue  to  be  optimists  and  firm  in  the  belief  that 
the  battle  against  all  well  known  and  flagrant  inefficiencies  is  to  be 
continued,  then  the  unalterable  laws  of  progress  will  be  granted  another 
vindication  and  progress  will  progress. 

“Where  there  is  a will  there  is  a way.”  As  the  will  has  not  been 
sufficiently  spurred  to  action  so  the  way  has  not  been  developed. 


Forest  Fires  in  Worth  Carolina 


35 


The  way  includes  efforts  directed  first  to  prevention  of  fires ; second  to 
the  quick  detection  of  the  fires  that  are  not  prevented,  before  they  gain 
headway,  in  order  that  they  may  he  reported  quickly  to  regularly 
appointed  agents  whose  duty  it  will  be  to  extinguish  them. 

First  prevention,  next  detection,  followed  by  extinguishing,  this  covers 
in  a nutshell  what  must  be  done.  Carelessness  and  wilfulness  is  the 
cause  of  nine-tenths  of  our  forest  fires.  The  underlying  cause  of  the 
wilfulness  is  mostly  ignorance  as  to  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  damage 
done  but  in  some  cases  the  wilfulness  is  due  to  pure  and  unadulterated 
cussedness.  The  attempt  must  be  made  to  carry  the  lesson  of  the  forest 
fire  in  some  way  to  every  man,  woman  and  child  in  the  State.  They 
must  be  convinced  and  their  support  enlisted.  Without  such  universal 
support  and  cooperation  all  the  United  States  Army  and  all  the  United 
States  ISTavy  could  not  stop  these  fires.  With  such  support  the  forest 
fire  problem  would  already  be  solved. 

In  remote  sections  the  forest  wardens  and  patrolmen  must  carry  the 
message  to  every  dweller  in  his  district. 

Carelessness  in  letting  fire  escape  and  wilfulness  in  setting  out  fire 
should  be  penalized.  Experiments  demonstrate  that  a small  fine  for 
carelessness  on  the  part  of  a negro  in  the  use  of  fire  is  very  conducive 
to  future  care.  Conditions  in  Mountain  Sections  are  very  different  from 
conditions  in  Coastal  Plain  Sections  and  this  includes  human  as  well  as 
physical  factors.  In  Coastal  Plain  Sections  many  advocate  controlled 
burning  of  the  forests  in  the  winter  time  in  order  to  avoid  the  risk  of 
accidental  burning  in  the  dryer  times.  This  idea  should  be  given  fair 
trial.  The  burning  of  fire  lines  along  railroads,  highways,  and  elsewhere 
will  be  effective. 

The  Worth  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey  is  increasing 
its  activity  in  urging  all  forest  landowners  to  organize  and  substitute 
concerted  effort  for  individual  effort  in  fighting  this  common  enemy  of 
the  forest. 

During  their  recent  session  the  members  of  the  Legislature  recognized 
the  importance  of  this  work  and  made  a small  increase  in  the  appro- 
priation for  carrying  it  forward.  In  order  to  make  this  money  go  as 
far  as  possible  in  developing  cooperative  effort  on  the  part  of  the  smaller 
owners  the  Director  of  the  Survey  offers  to  pay  from  funds  appropriated 
for  this  purpose  one-half  of  the  expense  of  employing  forest  fire  wardens 
to  work  in  the  more  dangerous  sections  providing  the  property  owners 
will  bear  the  other  half  of  the  expense.  As  the  most  dangerous  part 
of  the  season  rarely  lasts  for  more  than  two  or  three  months  the  expense 
involved  is  not  large  and  when  shared  by  the  average  number  of  owners 
in  a tract  of  one  hundred  thousand  to  two  hundred  thousand  acres  it  is 
not  a heavy  burden  and  the  insurance  thus  obtained  is  exceedingly  cheap. 

In  sections  where  forest  protection  is  especially  urgent,  but  for 


36 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


various  reasons  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  for  the  small  owners  to  get 
together  on  a cooperative  basis,  the  Legislature  at  tbeir  last  session  pro- 
vided another  possibility  for  cooperative  effort  between  boards  of  county 
commissioners  and  the  North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey, 
whereby  the  county  bears  one-half  of  the  expense  of  employing  a forest 
warden  and  the  State  bears  the  other  half.  In  other  words,  the  State 
proposes  to  help  those  who  help  themselves  and  those  who  wish  to  take 
advantage  of  such  opportunities  should  apply  to  Colonel  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  Director,  whose  office  is  at  Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 

It  should  be  pointed  out  that  State  funds  for  the  above  purposes  are 
strictly  limited  and  the  principle  of  “First  come,  first  served”  must  be 
applied. 

The  gradual  development  of  public  support  for  more  efficient  protec- 
tion of  our  forests  against  fire  is  very  encouraging,  for  if  only  fire  is 
kept  out,  our  cut-over  areas  reforest  themselves  by  natural  methods  very 
rapidly.  In  all  sections  of  the  State,  where  concerted  efforts  are  being 
applied,  results  clearly  demonstrate  that  most  of  the  forest  fires  can  be 
prevented,  that  all  of  these  that  are  not  prevented  can  be  quickly  extin- 
guished if  those  who  see  it  first  do  their  duty  and  report  it  at  once  to 
officials  whose  duty  it  is  to  see  that  it  is  extinguished.  It  has  been 
equally  well  demonstrated  that  wherever  inflammable  material  exists 
fires  are  likely  to  break  out  and  that  wherever  it  is  customary  to  let  them 
burn  themselves  out  incalculable  damage  is  done.  That  an  efficient 
organization  to  prevent  and  extinguish  the  fires  is  by  far  the  cheaper 
method  is  beyond  the  peradventure  of  a doubt. 

A large  force  of  local  patrolmen  and  forest  wardens  are  needed  to  do 
educational  work  amongst  the  country  people.  Many  of  them  do  not 
realize  at  all  the  great  damage  done  by  fire,  not  only  to  the  forest  growth, 
but  also  the  soil  fertility.  In  fact,  it  is  not  at  all  uncommon  to  find 
that  they  firmly  believe  that  fire  is  a good  thing  not  only  for  the  forests 
but  also  for  grazing  purposes  and  so  they  set  the  woods  on  fire  every  year. 
I have  recently  learned  that  in  some  sections  cotton  growers  set  adjacent 
woods  a-fire  because  they  believe  that  the  boll  weevil  propagates  in  the 
woods  from  which  it  later  launches  its  attack  on  the  cotton  fields.  The 
bootleggers  and  illegal  distillers  also  frequently  set  the  woods  on  fire  in 
order  to  make  a smoke  screen  to  hide  their  outlaw  distilling  operations. 
If  these  outlaws  could  be  driven  out  of  business  by  severe  penalties  many 
of  our  forest  fires  would  cease.  A large  amount  of  educational  work 
must  be  carried  on  to  reduce  the  number  of  fires  started  by  both  igno- 
rance and  carelessness  and  an  efficient  organization  must  be  developed  to 
enforce  the  forest  laws  and  direct  the  fire-fighting  crews  where  fires 
break  out.  If  these  measures  are  carried  out  the  damage  done  by  such 
fires  will  be  reduced  to  a minimum. 


Forest  Fires  in  ISTorth  Carolina 


37 


CAUSES  OF  FOREST  FIRES 

Matches,  Cigarettes,  Cigars,  Pipes. — Most  of  these  forest  fires  are 
due  to  pure  carelessness  on  the  part  of  those  who  use  the  forest.  Such 
carelessness  includes  the  throwing  of  burning  matches,  cigarettes,  cigars 
or  pipe  contents  into  dry  leaves  or  dry  grass.  Such  an  act  may  he  done 
by  a man  hunting  or  merely  tramping  through  the  woods,  or  it  may  be 
done  by  one  riding  in  an  automobile  along  a country  road,  or  by  a man  on 
horseback.  The  fire  does  not  start  at  once.  Probably  the  one  who 
thoughtlessly  threw  away  the  match  or  cigarette  is  out  of  sight  when  the 
smouldering  fire  breaks  into  flame.  This  flame  may  just  creep  along  until 
it  crosses  a field,  then  enters  an  adjacent  woods  where  there  is  consid- 
erable dry  underbrush,  or  slash.  When  this  catches  fire  severe  burning 
and  great  damage  result.  Perhaps  the  man  who  started  it  has  reached 
home  several  miles  away.  Mobody  saw  him  throw  away  the  burning  cig- 
arette that  started  the  fire  and  he,  himself,  never  realizes  that  it  was  his 
act  of  carelessness  that  started  a forest  fire  which  did  thousands  of  dollars 
worth  of  damage  before  it  was  finally  extinguished. 

Camp-fires. — A similar  act  of  carelessness  is  the  leaving  of  a camp-fire 
of  any  kind  before  it  is  thoroughly  extinguished.  A breeze  starts  up 
after  the  party  has  left,  it  fans  the  smouldering  embers  into  a flame, 
sparks  are  carried  by  the  wind  to  dry  grass  or  leaves  near  by,  from  which 
another  severe  forest  fire  starts  and  the  members  of  the  camping  party 
never  realize  that  it  was  their  act  of  carelessness  that  started  the  fire. 

Sawmills. — But  it  is  not  always  some  one  bent  on  pleasure  that  starts 
these  unnecessary  fires.  The  operator  of  a sawmill  may  permit  a mass 
of  scattered  infl.amina.hl.ft  material  to  collect  around  his  mill.  A spark 
from  the  engine  or  some  other  source  sets  it  on  fire  and  it  quickly  gets 
beyond  control. 

Logging  Roads. — A logging  operator  may  permit  the  locomotives 
which  haul  the  log  trains  to  scatter  sparks  among  the  slash  along  the 
line  of  the  logging  railroad.  During  the  dry  season  many  forest  fires 
are  started  in  this  way  and  perhaps  a whole  mountain  side  burned  over 
every  year  as  long  as  the  logging  operation  continues. 

Railroads.- — The  section  foreman  of  a passenger  and  freight  railroad 
may  neglect  to  clean  up  properly  along  their  right  of  way  before  the 
dangerous  dry  season  sets  in  and  as  a result  fires  start  along  this  right 
of  way. 

Brush  Burning.— The  farmer  sets  fire  to  brush  to  clear  new  land  and 
because  he  does  not  use  necessary  precautions  the  fire  gets  away  from 
him  and  burns  over  all  of  his  neighbors’  lands. 

Range  Burning. — The  stock  man  sets  fire  to  the  grass  land  and  lets  it 
run  wherever  it  will  for  his  own  selfish  reasons. 

All  Unnecessary  Fires  Should  Be  Eliminated.— All  of  such  sources  of 
forest  fires  can  and  should  be  eliminated.  In  fact,  the  only  cause  of 


38 


Foeest  Fibes  in  Hobth  Cabolina 


forest  fires  wliicli  cannot  be  eliminated  is  lightning  and  this  source  is 
rarely  the  cause  of  any  considerable  damage  because  they  occur  while 
it  is  raining  and  tbe  fire  is  soon  extinguished  by  the  rain. 

DUTIES  OE  THE  FOEEST  WAEDENS 

Watch  Sources  of  Fires. — It  is  the  duty  of  forest  wardens  to  watch 
carefully  all  sources  of  forest  fires  and  to  keep  accurately  informed  as 
to  where  the  forest  fires  originate  in  their  district.  Whenever  they  see 
dangerous  conditions  which  are  liable  to  cause  fire  they  should  warn  the 
owners  of  the  property  and  advise  them  how  to  reduce  the  fire  hazard 
by  cleaning  up  the  inflammable  material  in  their  vicinity. 

Post  Notices. — When  on  patrol  duty  wardens  should  always  carry  with 
them  a supply  of  notices  issued  by  the  Horth  Carolina  Geological  and 
Economic  Survey.  They  should  also  provide  themselves  with  a suitable 
tack  hammer  and  tacks  for  posting  securely.  Hoofing  nails  should  be 
used  for  posting  on  trees.  Tacks  are  not  long  enough  to  hold.  Hail 
them  down  to  stay.  Do  not  hang  them  up.  Every  district  must  be 
thoroughly  posted.  This  means  that  at  least  one  notice  be  posted  at 
some  gathering  place  in  every  town  or  village.  The  bulletin  boards  of 
county  courthouses,  postoffices  and  the  general  village  store  are  good 
places  to  post.  Permission  to  post  should  always  be  asked  and  permis- 
sion will  rarely  be  refused  if  the  reasons  for  posting  are  properly 
explained.  Notices  should  also  be  posted  at  proper  intervals  along  high- 
ways or  trails  commonly  traveled  through  the  forested  sections,  and 
especially  at  picnic  grounds,  springs,  or  other  gathering  places  in  the 
forests. 

Interview  Residents. — The  farmers  and  other  residents  in  a forested 
section  should  be  visited  and  informed  of  the  measures  the  State  and 
Hational  Governments  are  taking  to  prevent  and  extinguish  forest  fires. 
The  forest  laws  should  be  explained  to  them  and  they  should  be  con- 
vinced as  to  the  harm  forest  fires  do  to  their  community.  They  should 
be  made  to  realize  that  it  is  their  public  duty  to  cooperate  with  the  State 
officials  in  both  preventing  and  extinguishing  forest  fires.  They  should 
be  cautioned  against  the  careless  use  of  fire  in  burning  brush  or  clearing 
land  and  informed  of  the  State  laws  providing  a penalty  for  carelessly 
allowing  any  sort  of  a fire  to  escape  from  their  property  on  to  their 
neighbors’. 

Visit  the  Sawmills,  Logging  Operations,  Tar  Kilns,  Charcoal  Pits, 
Tanning  Plants  and  All  Other  W ood-using  Industries. — These  are  the 
industries  whose  business  it  is  to  harvest  and  manufacture  the  products 
of  the  forests.  The  life  of  these  industries  depends  on  a continuous 
supply  of  these  products.  For  this  reason  the  owners  and  officers  in 
charge  of  them  should  be  vitally  interested  in  preventing  forest  fires 
from  burning  up  their  source  of  supply.  As  a rule,  they  will  be  found 
to  be  practical  and  capable  business  men  and  will  be  glad  to  give  you 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


39 


valuable  advice  and  suggestions  as  to  bow  to  work  up  local  sentiment  for 
preventing  forest  fires.  It  is  tbe  duty  of  wardens  to  cooperate  with 
those  in  control  of  such  industries  to  the  greatest  extent.  If  they  do  not 
seem  to  be  interested  try  to  learn  why  they  are  not  and  report  their 
objections  and  criticisms  to  this  office. 

Railroads. — Practically  all  surface  fires  originating  along  railroad 
lines  can  be  stopped  effectually  if  sufficiently  wide  strips  parallel  to  the 
railroad  are  cleared  of  all  inflammable  material  before  each  spring  and 
fall  fire  season  sets  in.  It  is  the  general  custom  of  railroad  companies 
to  do  this  to  the  extent  of  their  own  right  of  ways.  As  their  right  of 
ways  usually  extend  about  fifty  feet  from  the  outside  rail  on  both  sides 
of  the  track  this  strip,  even  when  thoroughly  cleared,  is  not  wide  enough 
to  catch  all  sparks  thrown  out  by  the  locomotives.  As  the  railroad 
companies  have  no  right  to  clear  beyond  their  right  of  way  all  abutting 
property  owners  should  be  urged  to  clear  an  additional  strip  one  hundred 
to  two  hundred  feet  wide  and  parallel  to  the  railroad  line.  The  distance 
to  which  the  sparks  from  the  engines  fly  depends  on  the  rise  and  fall  of 
land  from  the  track  and  exposure  to  wind.  Where  conditions  permit  a 
ploughed  strip  six  furroughs  wide  and  two  hundred  feet  back  from  the 
outside  rail  will  stop  all  surface  fires  originating  from  locomotives  under 
ordinary  conditions,  providing  it  is  kept  clear  of  inflammable  material. 
If  the  strip  between  the  furroughs  and  the  railroad  is  burned  over  once 
each  year  additional  safety  is  secured. 

Visit  Schools. — Every  school  in  the  official’s  district  should  be  visited 
at  least  once  a year.  Arrangements  should  be  made  with  the  teacher  or 
superintendent  for  such  a visit.  If  the  official  has  ability  in  addressing 
children  the  teacher  will  no  doubt  be  glad  to  give  him  an  opportunity  of 
talking  to  the  pupils  about  how  trees  and  forests  reproduce  themselves 
and  how  necessary  it  is  to  protect  especially  the  young  trees  from  fire  in 
order  that  they  and  future  generations  of  children  may  be  provided  with 
lumber  to  meet  their  future  needs.  It  would  also  be  worth  while  to 
show  the  children  the  leaves  and  fruit  of  different  species  of  trees  and 
teach  them  how  to  distinguish  one  from  the  other.  The  indirect  benefits 
of  the  forests  should  also  be  mentioned,  such  as  protection  to  birds  and 
wild  animals,  prevention  of  soil  erosion,  equalization  of  the  flow  of 
rivers,  preservation  of  springs  and  picnic  grounds.  If  the  official, 
himself,  does  not  care  to  address  the  children,  he  should  tell  the  teacher 
what  he  knows  about  trees,  forests,  forest  fires,  lumbering,  State  laws, 
etc.,  and  request  the  teacher  to  talk  to  the  children  about  them. 

Patrol. — All  wardens  should  patrol  their  entire  districts  according 
to  directions  during  the  dry  and  dangerous  periods.  Certain  sections 
will  be  more  liable  to  burn  than  others  and  these  should  be  worked  more 
thoroughly  and  more  frequently.  When  patrolling  is  on  a daily  basis 
it  is  especially  ordered  that  only  such  days  be  selected  for  patrol  duty 
during  which  forest  fires  are  likely  to  break  out.  Rainy  days  or  damp 


40 


Forest  Fires  in  Forth  Carolina 


and  wet  days  must  not  be  selected  for  patrol  duty.  In  some  sections  the 
danger  is  particularly  great  on  Sundays  and  holidays  and  patrol  should 
be  made  on  such  days  when  conditions  call  for  it. 

They  should  report  fires  at  once  to  landowners,  superintendents  of 
estates,  railroad  agents,  logging  operators,  lumbermen,  etc.,  as  soon  as 
they  are  discovered.  When  necessary  they  can  go  to  the  assistance  of 
such  owners  and  help  to  extinguish  the  fires.  In  general,  however,  the 
owners  are  expected  to  protect  their  own  land.  The  State  has  not  yet 
made  any  appropriation  to  be  used  in  extinguishing  forest  fires.  But  all 
officials  can  and  should  instruct  owners  in  proper  and  efficient  methods 
of  fire  prevention  and  fire  fighting. 

In  most  parts  of  the  State  especially  dangerous  conditions  prevail 
from  November  till  January  and  from  March  till  May.  These  periods 
are  prolonged  or  shortened  according  to  climatic  conditions  and  ground 
cover.  In  the  eastern  sections  of  the  State  conditions  frequently  remain 
in  a dangerous  condition  throughout  the  dormant  season  of  vegetation; 
that  is,  from  the  fall  of  leaves  until  the  reappearance  of  leaves  in  the 
spring.  Forest  Wardens  are  directed  to  be  especially  active  and  watch- 
ful during  the  dangerous  periods  but  they  should  consider  that  they  are 
the  State’s  duly  authorized  agent  to  prevent,  extinguish,  investigate 
and  report  upon  forest  and  grass  fires  at  all  times.  They  should  keep 
this  office  informed  as  to  when  dangerous  conditions  begin  to  prevail 
and  also  when  they  terminate.  In  other  words,  they  should  consider  that 
they  are  on  duty  at  all  times,  but  as  sufficient  State  funds  are  not  avail- 
able for  continuous  employment  every  effort  should  be  made  to  apply 
such  funds  as  are  available  when  and  where  they  will  he  most  effective. 

Badges  Must  Be  Worn. — Forest  Wardens  are  expected  to  wear  at  all 
times  when  on  duty  the  badge  furnished  them  by  the  State  Forester.  In 
this  way  the  public  will  soon  come  to  know  and  respect  your  authority, 
and  your  presence  at  any  gathering  will  immediately  remind  people  of 
their  duty  to  be  careful  with  fire.  Care  must  be  taken  not  to  lose  the 
badge,  as  it  might  come  into  the  hands  of  unauthorized  persons,  who 
would  use  it  for  improper  purposes.  Wardens  are  responsible  for  the 
loss  of  a badge  and  will  be  charged  one  dollar  for  a new  badge  to  replace 
the  lost  one. 

Warnings  Must  Be  Emphasized. — As  in  all  other  matters,  so  in  the 
matter  of  forest  fires,  an  ounce  of  prevention  is  worth  more  than  a pound 
of  cure.  Your  very  first  and  most  vigorous  efforts  must  be  to  prevent 
forest  and  grass  fires  from  breaking  out.  Your  chief  method  must  be 
by  continually  warning  your  people  of  the  liability  of  fire  breaking  out 
whenever  and  wherever  conditions  become  inflammable.  Bear  in  mind 
at  all  times  that  a forest  fire  is  rarely  safely  out  before  a following  heavy 
rain.  Therefore,  it  should  be  carefully  patrolled  until  all  danger  of  its 
breaking  out  again  is  passed.  Always  warn  your  people  of  this  danger. 
As  your  chief  weapon  is  learning,  use  it  freely. 


Forest  Fires  in  Hoeth  Carolina 


41 


Police  Powers. — All  State  Forest  Wardens  will  be  furnished  with 
copies  of  the  State  Forest  laws.  They  should  study  these  carefully  and 
become  thoroughly  familiar  with  all  their  provisions.  Forest  Wardens 
are  given  power  to  arrest  without  warrant  persons  detected  in  the  act  of 
unlawfully  setting  out  forest  fires,  carelessly  allowing  forest  fires  to 
escape  on  to  neighbors’  land  or  tearing  down  or  mutilating  State  notices, 
which  they  or  other  State  officials  have  posted.  They  are  cautioned  to 
use  this  power  with  great  discretion.  If  the  arrest  can  just  as  well  be 
made  by  regular  authorities  it  is  better  that  they  should  do  it,  the 
warden  swearing  out  the  warrant  and  appearing  as  a witness  when 
advisable. 

It  is  the  duty  of  all  Forest  Wardens  to  assist  generally  in  the  enforce- 
ment of  all  forest  laws.  WTien  breaking  of  the  forest  laws  becomes  inten- 
tional and  frequent  they  should  first  collect  evidence  necessary  to  convict 
the  guilty  party  and  then  take  steps  to  have  the  party  brought  before 
the  local  magistrate. 

It  is  very  important  for  the  officials  to  endeavor  to  build  up  their  good 
influence  and  gain  the  good  will  of  their  people  by  assisting  them  in 
every  way  possible  in  the  work  of  forest  fire  prevention.  They  should 
carefully  avoid  antagonizing  them  in  any  way. 

Make  Daily  Reports. — Forest  Wardens  must  make  out  their  daily 
reports  promptly  upon  the  forms  furnished  them.  They  should  be 
mailed  at  their  first  opportunity.  This  means  the  first  time  they  are  in 
the  vicinity  of  a postoffice  and  not  four  or  five  days  later.  It  is  very 
important  that  they  write  carefully  and  answer  all  questions  asked,  not 
merely  one  or  two  of  them. 

Make  Special  Report  of  Every  Forest  Fire. — Blank  forms  are  fur- 
nished for  making  detailed  reports  on  all  forest  fires.  Ho  forest  fire 
is  too  small  to  be  reported.  The  [North  Carolina  Geological  and  Eco- 
nomic Survey  wants  every  warden  to  make  special  efforts  to  ascertain  the 
cause  of  every  forest  fire  which  occurs  in  his  district  throughout  the 
entire  year.  Arrangements  have  been  made  to  pay  for  the  time  and 
expenses  necessarily  incurred  in  properly  investigating  all  such  fires,  even 
though  they  occur  out  of  the  regular  fire  seasons.  Careful  estimates 
should  be  made  of  the  area  burned  and  value  of  damage  done.  It 
should  be  realized  that  damage  to  young  growth  is  by  no  means  limited 
to  the  value  of  the  trees  killed.  It  may  be  five  or  six  years  before  nat- 
ural reseeding  will  take  place  and  as  a result  there  will  be  a loss  of  five 
or  six  years  of  growth  in  addition  to  the  growth  destroyed.  Many  trees 
that  are  not  killed  outright  are  badly  scarred  or  otherwise  injured  so 
that  their  rate  of  growth  is  greatly  reduced.  The  damage  to  the  soil 
and  to  all  other  property  values  should  be  carefully  estimated  and 
included.  Efficiency  in  making  out  complete  and  accurate  fire  reports 
is  a fairly  good  indication  of  the  efficiency  with  which  other  duties  are 
performed. 


42 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


Monthly  Statement. — -At  the  end  of  every  month  and  at  the  termina- 
tion of  their  period  of  service,  when  this  occurs  within  the  month,  every 
Forest  Warden  should  submit  promptly  a brief  statement,  giving  the 
patrol  dates  and  dates  of  various  authorized  items  of  expense,  which 
were  necessarily  incurred  in  performance  of  duty  and  for  which  they  are 
entitled  to  reimbursement.  These  may  include  automobile  mileage,  use 
of  horse  or  mule,  car  fare,  and  sometime  board  and  lodging,  when  night 
overtakes  them  at  a distance  from  home  and  it  would  be  obviously  in  the 
interest  of  their  work  to  return  the  following  day.  Regular  forms  for 
a monthly  statement  of  expenses  are  provided  by  the  Survey  and  the 
Director  will  not  authorize  payment  until  these  have  been  submitted  in 
proper  form. 

Special  Requests  and  Information.- — All  requests  for  report  forms, 
envelopes,  notices,  etc.,  and  all  special  reports  on  conditions  and  all 
requests  for  information  and  instructions,  should  be  written  on  separate 
paper  in  the  form  of  a letter  and  not  on  the  back  of  report  forms.  In 
this  way  the  matter  will  come  to  the  attention  of  the  proper  parties  at 
the  head  office  more  quickly  and  accordingly  be  more  quickly  attended 
to.  Never  allow  your  supply  of  report  forms,  notices,  envelopes,  etc., 
to  become  exhausted.  Be  sure  to  request  more  as  soon  as  your  supply  is 
small. 

A general  spirit  of  cooperation  and  helpfulness  will  always  be  appre- 
ciated by  those  in  charge  and  it  will  greatly  assist  in  efficient  develop- 
ment of  all  forest  protection  work. 

Our  watchword  is  “Reduce  the  frequency  and  size  of  forest  fires.” 

North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey 

FORESTRY  DIVISION 

Weeks  Law  FOREST  FIRE  PRETENTION 

IN  CO-OPERATION  WITH  THE  FOREST  SERVICE,  UNITED  STATES 
DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE 

Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 

Circular  Letter:  April  8,  1921. 

REWARD  FOR  EVIDENCE 

SUPPLEMENTARY  INSTRUCTIONS  TO  FOREST  WARDENS 

Dear  Sir: — The  question  has  come  up  as  to  who  is  entitled  to  the  reward 
of  $20,  authorized  by  section  4309  of  the  Consolidated  Statutes,  for  furnishing 
to  the  State  sufficient  evidence  to  convict  any  party  for  setting  fire  to  the 
woods.  This  must  be  decided  by  the  magistrate  trying  the  case.  It  should 
be  understood,  however,  by  all  forest  wardens  that  they  are  employed  and 
paid  by  the  State,  among  other  things,  to  enforce  the  laws  against  burning 
the  woods.  For  this  reason,  forest  wardens  cannot  claim  this  reward,  as  it  is 
their  duty  to  furnish  all  evidence  in  their  possession  without  any  reward. 
I feel  sure  that  this  is  generally  understood,  hut  this  letter  may  prevent  some 
misunderstanding  in  the  matter. 

Very  truly  yours, 

(Signed)  J.  S.  Holmes,  State  Forester, 

North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey. 


Forest  Fires  in  JSTorth  Carolina 


43 


COOPERATION  IN  FIRE  PROTECTION 

With  the  increase  of  the  appropriation  of  the  Survey,  made  by  the 
Legislature  of  1921,  and  an  additional  apportionment  of  Federal  funds, 
after  the  first  of  J uly,  it  will  be  possible  to  still  further  extend  the  forest 
fire  protective  work  of  the  Survey.  The  total  amount  available,  how- 
ever, will  be  far  from  sufficient  to  adequately  protect  all  the  townships 
that  really  need  protection,  so  that  the  policy  of  appointing  wardens 
where  financial  cooperation  can  be  secured  will  be  continued. 

COUNTY  COOPERATION 

In  a State  where  local  self-government  plays  such  an  important  part 
as  it  does  in  Horth  Carolina,  it  would  seem  as  if  some  simple  method 
should  be  in  force  to  allow  counties  to  initiate  and  take  part  in  local 
protection  from  forest  fires.  A means  to  accomplish  this  has  been  pro- 
vided by  the  General  Assembly  of  1921  in  the  form  of  an  act  (chapter 
26),  “To  authorize  counties  to  cooperate  with  the  State  in  forest  fire 
protection.”  The  law  is  as  follows : 

AN  ACT  TO  AUTHORIZE  COUNTIES  TO  COOPERATE  WITH  THE  STATE  IN  FOREST  FIRE 

PROTECTION 

[Chapter  26,  Public  Laws  1921.] 

The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  do  enact: 

Section  1.  That  the  board  of  county  commissioners  of  any  county  are 
hereby  authorized  and  empowered,  in  their  discretion,  to  cooperate  with  the 
North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey  in  the  protection  from  fire 
of  the  forests  within  their  respective  counties,  and  to  appropriate  and  pay  out 
of  the  funds  under  their  control  for  such  protection  an  amount  not  to  exceed 
one-half  of  the  total  expended  by  said  Survey  in  such  county  during  any  one 
year  for  such  protection:  Provided,  that  said  board  of  county  commissioners 

may,  in  addition,  agree  with  the  Geological  and  Economic  Survey  to  pay  any 
part  of  or  all  the  expenses  incurred  in  extinguishing  forest  fires  within  said 
county  after  satisfying  themselves  that  such  expenses  were  legitimate  and 
proper. 

Sec.  2.  All  laws  and  clauses  of  laws  in  conflict  with  this  act  are  hereby 
repealed. 

Sec.  3.  This  act  shall  be  in  force  on  and  after  its  ratification. 

Ratified  this  the  9th  day  of  February,  A.D.  1921. 

WHAT  VIRGINIA  HAS  ACCOMPLISHED 

Virginia  has  a similar  law,  and  in  1916  the  State  Forester,  who  had 
then  only  recently  been  appointed,  invited  the  county  authorities  to 
cooperate  with  him  in  the  employment  of  one  or  more  forest  wardens  for 
patrolling  his  county.  Eight  counties  accepted  the  invitation  that  year 
and  in  1919  the  number  had  increased  to  twenty.  In  that  year  one 
county  appropriated  $3*00  for  this  purpose;  three  $250;  one  $200;  four 
$150;  one  $125  (for  fall  only)  ; eight  $100;  and  two  $75  each  (for  only 
part  of  the  county). 


44 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


In  eacli  county  from  one  to  four  patrolmen  were  appointed  under  the 
agreement  to  pay  at  least  half  of  their  salaries  either  from  State  funds 
or  from  Federal  funds  which  had  been  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  State 
Forester.  They  were  employed  to  work  on  dry  days  only  during  the 
dangerous  seasons.  These  men,  while  on  duty,  spent  their  entire  time 
traveling  over  the  districts  watching  out  for  forest  fires,  posting  warning 
notices,  cautioning  people  to  be  careful  with  fires,  visiting  sawmills,  etc. ; 
in  fact,  doing  exactly  the  same  work  as  the  forest  wardens  have  been 
doing  in  North  Carolina.  As  is  the  case  in  this  State,  they  were  given 
no  authority  to  employ  assistance  in  fighting  fires,  this  being  done  in  most 
cases  by  the  local  inhabitants.  Suitable  men  were  secured  for  around 
$3.50  per  day,  and  out  of  this  they  paid  any  incidental  expenses,  such  as 
feed  for  their  horse,  gas  for  their  automobile  and  lodging,  when  it  was 
necessary  for  them  to  stay  out  overnight. 

Fire  protection  work  along  these  lines  has  proven  decidedly  successful 
in  Virginia.  With  the  expenditure  of  a small  county  fund,  covering  not 
more  than  half  the  total  cost  of  the  men’s  salaries,  fairly  effective  pro- 
tection has  been  secured.  “The  patrolmen  themselves,”  says  the  State 
Forester  of  Virginia,  “are  highly  enthusiastic  over  the  approval  expressed 
by  almost  all  citizens  of  their  work  and  over  the  cooperation  secured. 
It  has  been  demonstrated  that  where  there  is  serious  fire  danger  a tre- 
mendous reduction  in  the  forest  fire  loss  can  be  brought  about  by  this 
means  at  a cost  that  is  trifling  as  compared  with  the  damage  that  can  he 
prevented.  The  method  is  undoubtedly  right.” 

The  boards  of  county  commissioners  in  those  counties  where  fire  pro- 
tection is  most  needed  are  being  invited  by  the  Survey  to  offer  coopera- 
tion as  was  done  in  Virginia.  As  long  as  the  available  State  and  Federal 
funds  hold  out,  the  offers  of  cooperation  will  be  carefully  considered,  and 
will  be  accepted,  if  mutually  satisfactory  arrangements  can  be  made. 
The  State  is  suggesting  an  agreement  along  the  following  lines : 

PROPOSED  BASIS  OE  AGREEMENT 

PROPOSED  BASIS  OF  AGREEMENT  BETWEEN  THE  BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS  OF  

COUNTY  AND  THE  STATE  GEOLOGICAL  AND  ECONOMIC  SURVEY  FOR  THE  PROTECTION 
OF  THE  FORESTS  OF  COUNTY  FROM  FIRE. 

The  Board  of  County  Commissioners  agrees: 

1.  To  pay  to  the  State  Geological  and  Economic  Survey  one  month  before  the 
beginning  of  the  spring  and  fall  lire  seasons  (February  1 and  September  1)  of 
each  year  the  sum  of  $300  or  more,  to  be  covered  by  an  equal  or  greater 
amount,  both  the  county  and  State  funds  to  be  used  for  paying  the  salary 

(and  necessary  expenses)  of  one  or  more  forest  wardens  in  

County. 

2.  To  nominate  and  recommend  to  said  Survey  a suitable  person  or  persons 

to  act  as  forest  warden  or  wardens  in county,  who  must 

be  men  respected  in  their  communities,  of  high  character  and  of  public  spirit. 
They  should  own  or  have  available  a horse  or  automobile  for  use  in  patrolling. 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


45 


3.  To  cooperate  so  far  as  is  possible  with,  said  wardens,  after  they  have  been 
appointed  in  the  execution  of  their  duties  and  the  enforcement  of  the  forest 
fire  laws. 

The  State  Geological  and  Economic  Survey  agrees: 

1.  To  employ  and  pay  from  funds  at  the  disposal  of  the  Survey  one  or 

more  forest  wardens  in  County. 

a.  Wardens  to  be  employed  on  part  time  during  the  dry  spring  and  fall  fire 
seasons,  and  for  extinguishing  and  investigating  forest  fires  at  other  times. 

b.  Wardens  to  be  appointed  by  State  in  accordance  with  State  law. 

c.  Wardens  to  be  paid  by  the  Survey  as  soon  as  after  the  end  of  each  month 
as  final  reports  can  be  received,  at  a fair  rate  to  be  agreed  upon  between  the 
warden  and  the  Survey. 

d.  Wardens  to  be  required  to  patrol  during  dry  and  dangerous  weather, 
extinguish  and  investigate  forest  fires,  post  notices,  interview  residents, 
inspect  sawmills,  visit  schools  and  other  public  places,  and  in  general,  work 
to  prevent  and  extinguish  forest  fires.  They  will  make  necessary  reports  to 
the  State  Forester  on  forms  provided  by  him. 

2.  To  furnish  to  said  wardens  a badge  of  office,  suitable  notices  for  posting 
over  the  county  and  leaflets  for  distribution  to  landowners  and  other  resi- 
dents and  users  of  the  forests. 

3.  To  submit  an  accurate  account  of  all  money  paid  to  wardens  in  

County  to  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners  at  the  end  of  each  year,  show- 
ing how  the  money  was  expended  and  what  amount  was  paid  by  the  county, 
and  what  paid  by  the  Survey. 

If  the  cost  of  the  forest  fire  prevention  work  in  said  county  has  not  equaled 
or  exceeded  an  amount  equal  to  twice  the  amount  appropriated  by  said 
county,  the  Survey  will,  upon  request,  return  to  said  county  its  pro  rata 
part  of  the  fund  remaining. 

It  is  hoped  that  such  cooperation  can  he  started  with  a number  of 
counties  both  in  eastern  and  western  North  Carolina  during  the  year 
1921.  Public  opinion  in  most  parts  of  the  State  is  such  that  county 
commissioners  will  find  the  people  behind  them  in  making  small  expendi- 
tures for  starting  definite  fire  protection  in  their  counties. 

FOREST  FIRE  PROTECTIVE  ASSOCIATION S 

The  most  effective  cooperation  in  fire  fighting  has  come  from  the  sev- 
eral forest  fire  protective  associations.  These  are  not  large  organiza- 
tions of  big  landowners,  such  as  one  finds  throughout  the  Northwestern 
United  States,  hut  groups  of  small  landowners  and  others,  who  are 
interested  in  the  prevention  of  forest  fires  both  for  their  own  profit  and 
the  good  of  the  community. 

Four  of  these  associations  have  been  active  in  the  suppression  of  fires 
for  part  or  all  of  the  three-year  period  under  discussion,  and  though  no 
very  extensive  work  has  been  done  their  organization  and  encouragement 
by  the  State  have  been  well  worth  while. 

LINVILLE  FOREST  PROTECTIVE  ASSOCIATION 

This  is  the  largest  of  the  four  associations,  its  membership  representing 
some  33,000  acres  of  mountain  land  (See  p.  55,  Economic  Paper  No. 


46 


Forest  Fires  in  ISTorth  Carolina 


48).  The  interest  of  the  members  in  its  work  has  been  fairly  well  sus- 
tained. The  third  annual  meeting  was  held  at  Linville  on  September 
27,  1918,  when  the  following  officers  were  elected  for  the  ensuing  year : 

President,  George  W.  Hardin,  General  Manager,  Linville  River  Railway  Com- 
pany, Johnson  City,  Tenn. 

Vice-President,  T.  W.  Hampton,  Superintendent  Boone  Fork  Lumber  Co., 
Shulls  Mills,  N.  C. 

Manager,  J.  P.  Gibbs,  Linville  Improvement  Company,  Linville,  N.  C. 
Secretary,  Mr.  Van  Mater,  Linville  Improvement  Company,  Linville,  N.  C. 
Directors:  George  W.  Hardin,  T.  W.  Hampton,  J.  P.  Gibbs;  L.  D.  Ellis,  Cran- 
berry Iron  and  Coal  Company,  Cranberry,  N.  C.;  E.  G.  Underdown,  Man- 
ager, Cone  Estate,  Blowing  Rock,  N.  C. 

Owing  to  the  absence  of  several  members  on  war  work  and  the  absorb- 
ing interest  of  other  activities  related  to  the  war,  little  development  work 
was  done.  Fortunately,  both  the  spring  and  fall  fire  seasons  were  prac- 
tically free  from  dangerous  periods  and  no  large  fires  were  reported. . 
A few  small  fires  along  the  railroad  were  extinguished  without  cost  to 
the  Association. 

The  report  for  1919  shows  that  there  were  practically  no  fires  during 
the  year,  the  only  expenditure  for  fire  fighting  being  $5.00  in  October. 
Those  fires  which  did  occur  were  caused  by  the  railroad  and  in  several 
cases  were  extinguished  before  spreading  more  than  a few  yards.  Regu- 
lar rains  materially  reduced  the  fire  risk,  and  it  was  not  deemed  neces- 
sary to  put  out  regular  patrolmen. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1919  the  association  area  was  divided  up 
into  six  patrol  districts,  and  in  case  of  dangerous  weather  patrolmen 
will  be  employed  to  take  the  following  routes : 

( 1 ) One  going  out  on  trains  from  Cranberry  to  Gap  and  walking  back 
along  track;  (2)  one  following  trains  from  Linville  to  Gap;  (3)  one 
patrolling  Pineola  and  Grandmother  Mountain;  (4)  one  at  Boone  Fork; 
(5)  one  at  Hodges  Gap;  and  (6)  one  from  Foscoe  to  Linville  Gap. 

During  the  year  the  association  installed  a protective  telephone  system 
from  Poplar  Siding  to  a point  one  mile  beyond  Linville  Gap,  a total 
distance  of  three  miles.  This  line,  in  conjunction  with  the  Linville 
Improvement  Company’s  line,  has  ’phones  at  a number  of  points,  includ- 
ing the  railroad  sidings,  railroad  station,  Sanford  & Treadway’s  office, 
Improvement  Company’s  office,  Davis’s  and  Morton’s.  In  case  of  alarm 
(which  may  be  turned  in  day  or  night)  a large  number  of  fire  fighters 
may  be  assembled  at  short  notice.  Fire  fighting  tools  have  been  located 
in  boxes  at  the  following  points : 

West  Linville  Railroad  Station, 

Linville  (Sanford  & Treadway), 

Linville  Gap  (Tate  Davis’s  house), 

Yonahlossee  Road  (Finley  Gragg’s). 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


47 


At  this  same  meeting  it  was  explained  that  Andrew  Calhoun  had 
assisted  several  times  in  extinguishing  forest  fires,  and  in  appreciation 
of  his  services  the  treasurer  was  instructed  to  pay  him  $5. 

The  constitution  was  amended  to  provide  for  seven  directors  instead 
of  five.  The  following  officers  were  then  elected  for  the  ensuing  year : 

President,  T.  W.  Hampton,  General  Manager,  Boone  Fork  Lumber  Company, 
Shulls  Mills,  N.  C. 

Vice-President,  F.  M.  Allison,  Linville  River  Railroad  Company,  Cranberry, 
N.  C. 

Treasurer,  L.  D.  Ellis,  Cranberry  Iron  and  Coal  Company,  Cranberry,  N.  C. 
Secretary-Manager,  J.  W.  Morton,  Linville  Improvement  Company,  Linville, 
N.  C. 

Directors:  J.  Frank  Hampton,  General  Manager  Sanford  & Treadway,  New- 
land,  N.  C. 

G.  W.  Hardin,  General  Manager  Linville  River  Railway  Company,  John- 
son City,  Tenn. 

Ed.  Robbins,  Pineola,  N.  C. 

T.  W.  Hampton,  Superintendent  Boone  Fork  Lumber  Company,  Shulls 
Mills,  N.  C. 

E.  G.  Underdown,  Superintendent  Cone  Estate,  Blowing  Rock,  N.  C. 

L.  D.  Ellis,  Cranberry  Iron  and  Coal  Co.,  Cranberry,  N.  C. 

J.  L.  Hartley,  Linville,  N.  C. 

On  motion  the  secretary  was  allowed  $50  per  year  to  pay  for  any 
necessary  clerical  help. 

The  manager’s  report  for  1920  includes  the  following  items : 

“The  year  of  1920  did  not  require  a great  amount  of  action  on  the  part  of 
the  Linville  Forest  Protective  Association  due  to  the  fact  that  frequent  rains 
greatly  lessened  the  danger  of  forest  fires.  Therefore,  there  were  no  regular 
fire  wardens  engaged  Jiy  the  association,  and  the  association  was  charged  only 
for  the  time  of  the  men  engaged  in  putting  out  the  few  small  fires  that  started. 

“The  expenses  being  low  and  balance  on  hand  sufficiently  large  to  more  than 
meet  the  needs  of  the  association,  it  was  decided  to  postpone  collection  of 
annual  dues  until  further  funds  were  desired. 

“Since  all  tools  have  been  distributed  to  the  various  boxes,  and  telephone 
lines  installed  as  planned,  the  following  improvements  are  contemplated: 
“(1)  To  provide  the  wardens  with  time  clocks  to  make  sure  that  they  cover 
their  territories  thoroughly. 

“(2)  To  enlist  the  interest  of  parties  living  in  Blowing  Rock  and  Shulls 
Mills  in  a telephone  line  between  these  two  places  to  work  in  conjunction  with 
the  association. 

“(3)  To  further  perfect  cooperation  of  the  Linville  River  Railway,  the  Lin- 
ville Improvement  Company,  and  other  landowners  with  the  Linville  Fire 
Protective  Association,  in  regard  to  territories  covered  by  their  respective 
wardens  and  in  getting  fire  fighters  quickly  to  the  scene  of  action. 

“(4)  To  carry  on  a vigorous  campaign  to  enlarge  membership,  thereby 
increasing  protected  territory  and  greatly  lessening  danger  to  the  whole. 

“The  spirit  of  increased  cooperation  and  interest  shown  by  the  people  in  the 
past  year  is  very  encouraging,  and  the  association  may  hope  for  continued 
improvement.” 


48 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


Tlie  annual  meeting  of  the  directors  of  the  Linville  Fire  Protective 
Association  was  held  at  Linville  on  November  3,  1920. 

The  motion  was  made  and  adopted  that  Mrs.  Tate  Davis  he  given  the 
sum  of  $25  in  recognition  of  her  faithful  services  in  vigilance  and  in 
fighting  fires. 

The  motion  was  made  and  carried  that  the  expenses  of  Mr.  W.  D. 
Clark,  Chief  Forest  Fire  Warden  in  the  State  Geological  and  Economic 
Survey,  be  paid  by  the  association  while  engaged  locally  in  securing 
additional  members  for  the  association. 

Resolutions  were  adopted  requesting  the  State  of  North  Carolina  to 
increase  its  appropriation  for  forest  fire  protection,  in  order  to  increase 
the  Federal  appropriation;  petitioning  the  United  States  Congress  to 
increase  to  one  million  dollars  its  appropriation  under  the  Weeks  Law; 
and  requesting  the  United  States  Congress  to  adopt  a permanent  policy 
looking  towards  extensive  acquisition  of  cut-over  lands  for  national 
forests. 

The  financial  report  of  the  Linville  Forest  Protective  Association, 
covering  the  past  three  years,  follows: 


Jan.  1. 
Dec.  31. 

Dec.  31. 


Jan.  1. 
Dec.  31. 
May  19. 
Oct.  24. 
Oct.  31. 
Nov.  6. 
Nov.  15. 
Dec.  31. 


Financial  Statement 


1918 

Balance  on  hand , 

Semiannual  dues  from  members 

Miscellaneous  expenditures $ 9.17 

Balance  on  hand 546.94 


$195.20 

360.91 


$556.11  $556.11 


1919 

Balance  on  hand $546.94 

By  semiannual  dues,  July -Dec.,  1919 336.41 

To  hack  salary  patrolmen $ 40.00 

To  expenses  fire  fighting 5.00 

To  shovels  and  axe  handles 31.13 

To  three  miles  telephone  wire 43.00 

To  freight  on  wire 2.22 

To  balance  on  hand 762.00 


$883.35  $8S3.35 


1920 

Jan.  1.  Balance  on  hand 

Paid  for  fire  fighting,  1920 $ 46.00 

Making  tool  box 3.35 

Expenses  of  Chief  Forest  Fire  Warden,  securing  members 24.50 

Salary  of  Secretary-Manager 50.00 

Dec.  31.  Balance  on  hand 638.15 


$762.00 


$762.00  $762.00 


Forest  Fires  in  jSTorth  Carolina 


49 


MOUNT  MITCHELL  FOREST  PROTECTIVE  ASSOCIATION 

This  association  has  continued  its  fire  fighting  work  throughout  the 
past  three  years  with  practically  the  same  organization.  Mr.  A.  R. 
Bauman,  of  Montreat,  has  been  the  secretary-manager,  while  Mr.  Fred 
A.  Perley,  Black  Mountain,  has  continued  to  act  as  president,  and  Mr. 
J.  P.  Parker,  of  Black  Mountain,  as  vice-president.  The  activities  of 
the  association  have  been  restricted  to  a small  area,  hounded  on  the  east 
by  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  on  the  west  by  the  fSTorth  Fork  of  the  Swannanoa 
River. 

The  repbrt  for  1918  includes  the  following  items : 

On  April  24  the  manager  wrote : 

“While  we  have  had  several  fires  this  season  we  have  been  able  to  handle 
them  without  much  damage,  and  fires  in  general  are  much  less  frequent  than 
in  former  years.  We  have  had  two  fires  on  the  Black  Mountain  watershed, 
both  of  which  were  extinguished  by  the  Federal  patrolman  (who  is  coop- 
erating with  the  association)  with  some  assistance,  our  association  paying 
for  labor  used  in  extinguishing  these  fires.  We  all  feel  gratified  at  the  reduc- 
tion of  forest  fires  in  our  area.” 

On  May  3 the  manager  reported : 

“Tools  have  been  sent  to  Mr.  Fred  Moser  (Federal  patrolman  in  Mount 
Mitchell  District,  adjoining  the  association  on  the  north).” 

On  October  25  the  manager  reported : 

“We  have  made  our  usual  arrangements  for  the  fire  fighting  season,  and 
hope  to  be  able  to  put  on  more  patrols.  We  had  quite  a bad  fire  in  Montreat 
and  along  the  Perley  & Crocket  Railroad  last  week,  and  it  took  a good  many 
men  to  extinguish  it,  costing  about  $65.  The  fire  was  along  the  entire  length 
of  the  Perley  & Crockett  Railroad,  where  it  goes  through  Montreat,  and  it 
went  over  to  our  watershed,  doing  much  damage  there.  I am  doing  every- 
thing possible  to  keep  such  fires  down,  but  owing  to  the  very  dry  weather  it 
was  a hard  joD  to  check  this  one.” 

The  report  of  this  association  for  1919  includes  the  following: 

“We  had  about  eleven  fires  in  all  during  the  season,  most  of  which  were 
small  and  easily  extinguished  without  doing  any  material  damage.  Three 
of  the  fires  burned  over  about  three  acres  before  being  put  out.  These  fires 
were  caused  by  the  Perley  & Crockett  Railroad  engines,  and  were  extinguished 
with  the  use  of  the  potato  rake  and  with  brush.  Owing  to  the  lack  of  suffi- 
cient funds,  we  have  been  unable  to  do  much  constructive  work  other  than  to 
patrol  and  keep  down  these  fires.  There  has  been  great  improvement  along 
this  line,  and  we  do  not  begin  to  have  as  many  fires  as  in  the  past,  because 
we  are  educating  the  people  up  to  the  importance  of  preserving  the  forests  in 
general,  and  they  are  willing  to  assist  in  a moral  way,  though  we  have  not 
been  able  to  get  them  to  assist  financially. 

“Much  work  in  putting  out  fires  is  not  charged  for,  as  the  people  in  general 
are  always  willing  to  assist  in  this  work  without  any  charge.” 

4 


50 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


During  1920  the  only  fire  fighting  done  by  the’  association  was  in 
November.  Several  serious  fires  occurred  and  $126  was  paid  out  for 
extinguishing  them.  The  manager  reports : 

“All  the  fires  we  worked  on  during  November  were  along  the  Perley  & 
Crockett  Railroad  and  set  out  by  this  road.  These  fires  burned  on  Lookout, 
Brushy,  Long  Gap,  Big  and  Little  Slaty  mountains,  and  also  extended  over 
on  to  the  watershed  of  the  Mountain  Retreat  Association,  where  this  settlement 
gets  its  supply  of  drinking  water.  I would  judge  that  over  200  acres  were 
burned  over.’’ 

Collections  have  been  very  slow  in  coming  in  during  the  past  three 
years.  Two  or  three  of  the  more  important  members  are  contributing 
in  a way  by  paying  for  fire  fighting  on  their  own  land.  There  is  also  an 
understanding  that  some  other  members  will  contribute  as  soon  as  funds 
are  exhausted.  It  is  hoped  that  in  this  way  the  fire-fighting  work  of  the 
association  will  be  continued.  Its  patrol  work  has  not  been  carried  on 
for  several  years.  It  is  expected  that  the  logging  railroad  will  he  taken 
up  within  a year  or  two  and  then  the  association  can  be  thoroughly  reor- 
ganized or  discontinued,  as  thought  best. 

The  report  of  receipts  and  disbursements  for  the  past  three  years 
follows : 

Financial  Statement 
1918 


Jan.  1.  Balance  on  hand $192.15 

By  dues  and  subscriptions 76.00 

To  labor,  spring  fire  fighting $112.95 

To  expenses,  secretary-manager  6.80 

Dec.  31.  To  balance  on  hand 148.40 


$268.15  $268.15 

1919 

Jan.  1.  Balance  on  hand $148.40 

By  dues  and  subscriptions 45.00 

To  labor,  spring  fire  fighting $ 3.50 

To  labor,  fall  fire  fighting 11.10 

To  expenses,  secretary-manager 10.00 

Dec.  31.  Balance  on  hand 168.80 


$193.40  $193.40 

1920 

Jan.  1.  Balance  on  hand $16S.S0 

By  dues  10.00 

To  labor,  fall  fire  fighting $102.90 

To  expenses,  secretary-manager  23.40 

Dec.  31.  To  balance  on  hand 52.50 


$17S.S0  $17S.S0 

TRTON  FORESTRY  CLUB 

Reports  of  the  Tryon  Forestry  Club  to  the  Survey  have  been  meagre 
and  irregular.  This  is  in  part  due  to  the  change  in  the  management 


Forest  Fires  in  FTorth  Carolina 


51 


made  necessary  by  the  illness  and  subsequent  death  of  the  former  secre- 
tary, Mr.  George  B.  Cobb,  through  whose  earnest  efforts  the  club  was 
organized  in  1911.  The  interest  of  the  members  in  fire  extinction  has 
been  sustained  and  their  cooperation  with  the  Federal  patrolman  of  the 
district  helpful. 

The  following  statement,  showing  the  number  and  character  of  fires 
occurring  in  the  district  over  the  three-year  period  indicates  the  success 
of  their  efforts: 


Date 

Area 

Burned 

Over 

Total 

Damage 

Cost  of 
Extin- 
guishing 

Cause 

1918: 

Feb. 26 

40 

S 200 

S 3.95 

From  burning  building. 

March  15 

75 

150 

13.50 

Burning  grass  field. 

21 

4 

.60 

22 

100 

500 

6.60 

Incendiary. 

30 

2 

2 

Railway. 

2 

1919 

April  14 ..  _ 

6 

50 

3.30 

Railway. 

24 

35 

1,750 

15.00 

Railway. 

24 

50 

750 

15.00 

Brush  burning. 

Nov.  23 

40 

5.40 

Railway. 

1920 

Mar.  23 

35 

175 

21.80 

Hunters. 

April  25 

79 

1.000 

23.60 

Bee  tree. 

Nov.  19 _ _ .. 

500 

2,500 

148.20 

Hunters. 

Only  one  fire  during  the  entire  period  exceeded  100  acres  in  extent,  and 
the  average  fire  was  sixty-nine  acres.  This  compares  very  favorably 
with  the  average  for  the  State  of  160  acres  per  fire  and  the  six-year 
average  for  the  State  of  225  acres  per  fire.  The  average  damage  per  fire 
reported  by  the  Federal  patrolman  in  this  district,  but  in  most  cases  esti- 
mated by  the  club,  amounts  to  $7.30  per  acre. 

The  following  items  have  been  reported  by  the  officials  of  the  club : 

“The  year  of  1918  had  damp  weather  both  during  the  spring  and  fall  fire 
seasons,  with  very  few  fires.” 

On  April  24,  1919,  the  Treasurer  writes: 

“Had  a call  by  ’phone  from  a man  at  Mill  Springs,  outside  the  area  protected 
by  the  club,  wanting  help  to  put  out  the  fires,  which,  of  course,  we  could  not 
give.  At  midday,  a fire  was  reported  near  the  Horse  Shoe  Curve  (on  the 
Southern  Railway).  The  Federal  patrolman,  James  F.  Berry,  was  over  on 
Green  River,  but  we  managed  to  get  a force  to  the  fire,  and  stopped  it.  Late 
this  evening  either  the  same  fire  or  another  one  was  burning  on  Piney  Moun- 
tain, and  we  got  another  force  out  to  it,  but  have  not  heard  the  result.  Very 
dry,  with  high  wind  from  the  north  tonight,  so  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to 
control  fires.” 


52 


Forest  Fires  in  LTorth  Carolina 


The  annual  report  for  the  year  1919  shows  Major  Bernard  Sharp, 
president;  G.  H.  Holmes,  treasurer;  and  B.  C.  von  Kahlden,  secretary, 
all  of  Tryon,  H.  C. 

A total  of  130  acres  of  land  is  reported  as  having  been  burned  over 
during  the  year,  about  35  of  which  is  in  Tryon  Township  and  the  bal- 
ance in  Saluda  Township.  An  estimated  damage  of  $20  per  acre  in 
timber  and  young  growth  is  made.  The  treasurer  writes : 

“The  fire  season  in  the  spring  of  1919  was  short,  though  very  dry  for  a 
while.  In  the  fall  there  was  scarcely  any  dry  weather  when  fires  could  do 
damage.  The  membership  of  the  club  is  about  forty.” 

The  fire  seasons  for  1920  were  short,  and  with  one  exception,  not  very 
serious.  In  [November,  however,  during  a brief  windy  dry  time,  a fire 
broke  out  on  Tryon  Mountain  and  lasted  from  2 p.m.,  November  19,  to 
3 a.m.,  FTovember  22,  and  burned  over  500  acres.  It  would  have  been 
much  larger  but  for  the  faithful  work  of  the  Federal  patrolman,  James 
F.  Berry,  who  stayed  with  it  the  whole  time.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that 
this  faithful  patrolman  was  shot  and  killed  in  Tryon  on  February  12, 
1921.  The  State,  the  Federal  Government,  and  the  community  have 
lost  a faithful  servant  and  citizen.  The  secretary  reports  that  at  the 
annual  meeting  on  November  8,  1920,  the  following  officers  were  elected: 

W.  T.  Lindsey,  President. 

G.  H.  Holmes,  Treasurer. 

B.  C.  von  Kahlden,  Secretary. 

The  meeting  adopted  resolutions  (a)  calling  upon  the  General  Assem- 
bly to  make  adequate  appropriations  so  that  the  State  Geological  and 
Economic  Survey  may  greatly  strengthen  and  extend  its  work  for  the 
prevention  of  forest  fires  in  this  State;  (b)  requesting  Congress  to  con- 
tinue the  policy  of  acquiring  lands  for  national  forests  and  appropriat- 
ing at  least  $10,000,000  a year  for  the  next  five  years;  and  (c)  requesting 
Congress  to  increase  to  one  million  dollars  a year  the  appropriation  for 
cooperation  with  the  states  in  fire  protection  under  the  Weeks  Law. 
The  club  decided  not  to  charge  membership  fees,  but  to  depend  on  volun- 
tary contributions  for  necessary  fire  fighting  funds. 

The  financial  statement  for  the  past  three  years  is  given  below : 

Financial  Statement 
1918 


Jan.  1.  Balance  on  hand $ 65.22 

Mar.  5.  To  paid  expenses  fighting  fire 3.90 

Mar.  25.  To  paid  expenses  fighting  fire 2.20 

Nov.  20.  To  paid  expenses  fighting  fire 2.50 

Dec.  31.  To  balance  on  hand 56.62 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


53 


1919 


Jan.  1.  Balance  on  hand $ 56.62 

By  dues  and  subscriptions 56.11 

To  paid  labor  fighting  fires $ 16.50 

Dec.  31.  Balance  on  band 96.13 


$112.73  $112.73 

$ 96.13 

152.10 

$183.80 
64.43 

$248.23  $248.23 

sandhills  fire  association 

After  a number  of  conferences  and  correspondence  extending  over 
a number  of  years  a fire  protective  association  was  organized  in  the 
center  of  the  Sandhills  region  of  the  State,  perhaps  the  most  difficult 
region  of  the  Eastern  United  States  in  which  to  control  fires. 

At  a meeting  held  in  Southern  Pines  on  March  2,  1919,  the  Sandhills 
Fire  Association  was  formed  and  the  following  by-laws  adopted: 

1.  Name.  The  name  of  this  association  shall  be  the  Sandhills  Fire 
Association. 

2.  Object.  The  purpose  of  the  association  shall  he  for  the  proper  and 
efficient  handling  of  the  woods  fires  in  McNeills  and  Sandhills  townships, 
in  Moore  County;  and  protection  of  said  townships  from  fires  arising  in 
Hoke  County. 

3.  Area.  The  activities  of  the  association  shall  extend  over  such  parts 
of  McNeills  and  Sandhills  townships  in  Moore  County  as  it  shall  designate; 
and  so  much  of  the  upper  end  of  Hoke  County  as  may  be  necessary  for  the 
protection  of  the  above  territory. 

4.  Officers.  The  association  shall  have  the  following  officers:  a chairman, 
whose  duty  shall  as  such  consist  solely  in  conducting  the  meetings;  a secre- 
tary, whose  duties  shall  be  confined  to  acting  as  clerk  of  the  meetings,  con- 
ducting the  correspondence  and  safeguarding  all  the  papers  of  the  association; 
a fire  warden,  whose  duties  shall  consist  of  taking  and  having  full  charge  of 
all  the  field  activities  of  the  association;  a small  committee  to  be  selected  by 
the  warden  to  advise  and  assist  him  in  such  manner  as  he  may  designate.  In 
the  absence  of  the  chairman  from  any  meeting  the  members  present  shall 
choose  a temporary  chairman. 

5.  Meetings.  The  association  shall  hold  its  annual  meeting  on  the  first 
Saturday  in  December  of  each  year,  at  which  meeting  the  chairman,  secre- 
tary, and  fire  warden  for  the  ensuing  year  shall  be  elected.  At  said  meeting 
reports  shall  be  filed  by  all  elective  officers  covering  their  work  for  the  past 
year,  which  reports  shall  be  filed  with  the  records  of  the  association.  Other 
meetings  shall  be  called  from  time  to  time  by  the  secretary  by  the  direction  of 
either  the  chairman  or  the  warden. 

6.  Headquarters.  The  headquarters  of  the  association  shall  be  in  the  town 
of  Southern  Pines. 

7.  Membership.  The  membership  of  the  association  shall  consist  of  all 
adults  in  the  district  who  shall  sign  the  articles  of  association  and  pay  the 
dues  required. 


1920 

Jan.  1.  Balance  on  hand 

By  dues  and  subscriptions 

To  paid  labor  for  fighting  fires 

Dec.  31.  Balance  on  hand 


54 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


8.  Dues  and  assessments.  The  dues  and  assessments  of  the  association 

shall  be  as  follows:  For  all  landholders,  outside  of  the  towns,  at  the  rate  of 

one-half  a cent  per  acre  per  year;  for  all  residents  of  the  towns  the  rate  shall 
be  one  dollar  a year.  All  dues  shall  he  payable  in  advance  in  half  yearly 
installments  on  the  dates  of  January  1 and  July  1. 

9.  Pledge.  It  is  further  understood  and  agreed  by  and  between  the  parties 
signing  these  rules  that  each  one  pledges  and  binds  himself  to  cooperate  with 
his  neighbor  for  protection  against  lire  at  the  call  of  his  neighbor. 

Mr.  P.  P.  Pelton,  through  whose  untiring  efforts  the  association  was 
formed,  was  elected  secretary;  and  Mr.  D.  C.  Lemons  was  requested 
to  act  as  forest  warden.  He  was  subsequently  appointed  a State 
Forest  Warden  by  the  State  Forester. 

During  that  year  the  association  was  quite  active  in  investigating 
fires  and  in  prosecuting  offenses  against  the  forest  fire  laws.  One  case 
in  particular,  in  which  a prominent  citizen  had  set  fire  to  the  woods  to 
protect  his  own  property  and  allowed  fire  to  escape  without  any  effort 
to  control  it,  was  hotly  fought,  but  the  man  was  convicted. 

The  association’s  efforts  to  interest  the  railroads  of  that  region  ic 
preventing  fires  escaping  from  their  right  of  way  and  extinguishing 
those  resulting  from  sparks  from  their  engines  is  bringing  results.  An 
effort  to  cooperate  with  the  War  Department  in  preventing  the  spread 
of  fires  from  Camp  Bragg,  which  adjoins  the  association  property, 
brought  out  the  fact  that  the  War  Department  was  taking  strong 
measures  to  keep  down  fires  on  their  property.  The  following  letter  was 
received  by  the  secretary  of  the  association : 

Headquarters  Camp  Bragg, 

Office  of  the  Commanding  Officer,  Fayetteville,  N.  C.,  Dec.  4,  1919. 

Mr.  P.  P.  Pelton, 

Southern  Pines,  N.  C. 

Dear  Sir: — Replying  to  your  letter  of  November  20th,  we  have  a fire  guard 
on  Johnson  Mountain  looking  out  for  fires  in  the  reservation  and  the  property 
adjacent  thereto.  The  guard  is  there  primarily  to  put  out  small  fires  in  their 
vicinity,  and  to  report  to  the  camp  commander  any  evidence  of  fires  they  can- 
not handle,  in  which  case  a detail  of  men  would  be  sent  out  from  camp  as 
rapidly  as  possible  to  stop  the  fire. 

The  above  precautions  have  been  taken  to  protect  the  entire  reservation. 
We  have  had  no  fires  of  any  consequence  on  the  reservation  to  date,  and  we 
hope  you  have  been  as  fortunate. 

(Signed)  S.  R.  Hopkins,  Lieut. -Colonel, 

Field  Artillery,  Executive  Officer. 

An  effort  was  made  to  appoint  a Federal  patrolman  to  cooperate  with 
the  association  in  the  spring  of  1919  but  no  suitable  man  could  be  fouud 
until  the  fall,  when  William  R.  Rice,  of  Pinebluff,  was  appointed  patrol- 
man. He  patrolled  that  fall  and  the  next  spring  in  a Ford  truck  and 
covered  a large  district,  doing  excellent  work.  Unfortunately,  Mr.  Rice 
has  gone  into  other  work  and  his  services  are  not  available.  An  attempt 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


55 


to  secure  another  suitable  man  in  the  fall  of  1920  failed.  Little  has  been 
done  by  the  association  during  the  past  year,  largely  because  the  personal 
efforts  of  the  secretary  have  had  to  be  relaxed,  owing  to  business  reasons. 
There  is  a great  opportunity  for  a live  association  in  this  region  and  it  is 
hoped  that  the  activities  of  the  Sandhills  Fire  Association  may  be 
revived. 

Financial  Report  for  1919  and  1920 


Receipts , 1919. 

By  dues  and  subscriptions $60.00 

Expenditures,  1920. 

To  lawyer’s  fee  for  prosecution $20.00 

To  fire  fighting  tools 5.50 

To  re-charging  chemical  extinguisher 2.75 

To  telephone  tolls  1.00 

To  miscellaneous  expenses  3.11 

To  balance  on  hand  December  31 27.64 


$60.00  $60.00 

January  1,  1920. 

Balance  on  hand $27.64 

January  1,  1921. 

Balance  on  hand 27.64 


WESTERN  HARNETT  COUNTY  LANDOWNERS 

As  a result  of  an  appeal  for  assistance  in  protecting  their  lands  from 
fire  made  by  some  of  the  landowners  in  southwestern  Harnett  County 
late  in  the  fall  of  1920  the  new  Chief  Forest  Fire  Warden  visited  the 
region  and  conferred  with  a number  of  prominent  landowners.  As  a 
result  of  this,  the  Survey  has  made  an  offer  to  cooperate  with  the  land- 
owners  without  the  formality  of  organizing  a fire  association.  Pending 
the  definite  acceptance  of  this  offer  a fire  warden,  Mr.  J.  S.  Johnson, 
Spout  Springs,  N.  C.,  was  appointed  to  start  protection  work  and 
attempt  to  organize  along  the  lines  suggested  in  the  following  letter, 
which  is  given  in  full  because  it  is  thought  other  communities  might  like 
to  receive  the  assistance  of  the  State  along  similar  lines : 

Chapel  Hill,  N.  C.,  November  30,  1920. 

To  the  Superintendent, 

Highland  Farm, 

Pine  View,  N.  C. 

Dear  Sir: — Upon  my  return  to  headquarters  I reported  to  the  State  Forester 
upon  the  practical  efforts  the  landowners  in  your  section  of  Harnett  County 
are  making  to  protect  their  forest  lands  against  fire.  I am  very  glad  to  be 
able  to  inform  you  that  the  Forester,  on  behalf  of  the  State  Geological  and 
Economic  Survey,  is  willing  to  authorize  the  appointment  of  a forest  warden 
for  duty  in  the  western  part  of  Harnett  County  and  adjacent  territory,  the 
particular  boundaries  to  be  decided  upon  at  a meeting  of  the  interested  parties. 
The  basis  of  such  authorization  would  be  that  the  State  pay  50  per  cent  of 
the  salary  and  expenses  of  the  appointee,  and  the  associating  landowners  the 


56 


Forest  Fires  in  FTorth  Carolina 


other  50  per  cent.  It  would  also  be  necessary  to  limit  the  total  State  expendi- 
ture for  this  work  to  $250  for  the  coming  year.  If  the  other  cooperating 
parties  could  raise  $250  this  would  make  a total  of  $500,  which  should  accom- 
plish considerable  in  starting  educational  work,  posting  fire  warning  notices, 
and  generally  creating  a public  sentiment  against  uncontrolled  forest  fires. 

The  cooperating  parties  in  this  case  would  be  the  State,  Mr.  J.  S.  Johnson, 
yourself  acting  for  Mr.  Sprunt,  Mr.  Davis  and  Mr.  Campbell,  for  the  Overhills 
Club.  No  doubt  Mr.  E.  G.  Moss  would  want  to  come  in  for  the  Never  Fail 
Farm,  and  perhaps  you  may  think  of  others. 

In  order  that  this  work  may  be  started  without  unnecessary  delay  I am 
going  to  assume  the  privilege  of  asking  you  to  call  a meeting  of  the  parties 
interested  for  the  purpose  of  discussing  these  matters  and  arriving  at  some 
agreement. 

Sometimes  patrolmen  are  employed  on  a monthly  basis  with  salary  ranging 
from  $75  to  $90  per  month  and  expenses  at  75c  a day  for  use  of  a horse;  or 
5c  per  mile  for  use  of  a car.  They  are  employed  for  a month  or  two  during 
the  dangerous  fall  season  and  again  during  the  spring  season.  Sometimes 
they  are  employed  on  a daily  basis  for  from  $3  to  $5  a day  and  expenses,  put- 
ting in  three  or  four  days  a week. 

The  duties  of  the  State  forest  wardens  and  Federal  patrolmen  would  be 
chiefly  as  follows: 

A.  Educational: 

1.  To  post  in  conspicuous  places  fire  warning  notices  and  essential  parts 

of  forest  laws. 

2.  To  distribute  to  interested  parties  copies  of  the  State  forest  laws 

and  other  forest  literature. 

3.  To  call  upon  local  residents,  farmers,  etc.,  and  advise  with  them 

about  the  forest  laws  and  caution  them  about  the  use  of  fire. 

4.  To  visit  the  schools  and  teach  the  children  how  trees  and  forests 

reproduce  themselves  and  how  necessary  it  is  to  protect  especially 

the  young  trees  from  fire  in  order  that  they  and  their  children  may 

be  provided  with  lumber  to  meet  their  future  needs. 

B.  Patrol: 

1.  To  patrol  their  territory  during  the  dry  and  dangerous  seasons  under 

the  direction  of  the  State  Forester. 

2.  To  report  fires  at  once  to  landowners,  to  superintendents,  to  managers 

of  local  fire  protective  organizations,  and  to  the  State  Forester. 

3.  To  assist  in  preventing  and  extinguishing  forest  fires  and  in  organ- 

izing and  directing  fire  fighting  crews. 

G.  Police: 

1.  To  assist  in  the  general  enforcement  of  all  forest  laws. 

2.  To  investigate  and  report  upon  the  causes  of  forest  fires  and  suggest 

improved  methods  of  control. 

The  above  is  a general  outline  of  forest  warden  duties.  It  would  he  of  con- 
siderable help  to  us  if  you  could  bring  these  up  for  discussion  at  your  meeting 
and  let  us  have  the  benefits  of  your  criticisms  and  suggestions. 

The  wardens  should  be  nominated  by  the  cooperators  subject  to  the  approval 
of  the  State  Forester  by  whom  the  appointment  would  be  made.  The  entire 
salary  and  expenses  would  be  paid  direct  from  the  Survey  office  on  submission 
of  account  supported  by  necessary  vouchers.  Then  the  Survey  would  submit 
all  to  the  association  which  in  turn  would  remit  its  half  to  the  Survey. 

It  has  been  suggested  that  the  cost  of  this  forest  protective  work  be 
distributed  among  the  cooperating  members  on  an  acreage  basis. 


Forest  Fires  in  ISTorth  Carolina 


57 


In  order  that  a start  may  be  made  this  year,  we  have  written  Mr.  Johnson 
asking  him  to  serve  at  State  and  Federal  expenses  for  the  first  two  or  three 
weeks  of  December  only. 

We  hope  you  will  advise  us  how  we  may  be  of  further  assistance  in  this 
undertaking.  Very  truly  yours, 

(Signed)  W.  D.  Clark,  Chief  Forest  Fire  Warden , 

North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey. 

PROTECTING  MOUNT  MITCHELL  STATE  PARK 

When  the  General  Assembly,  at  the  urgent  request  of  Governor  Locke 
Craig,  provided  for  the  purchase  of  “a  portion  of  Mount  Mitchell,  includ- 
ing the  summit  . . . for  the  creation  of  a public  park,”  it  did  not 

make  any  provision  for  its  administration  or  its  protection  from  fire. 
Previous  to  JSTovemher,  1916,  when  the  purchase  of  the  first  524  acres 
was  completed,  there  had  been  no  forest  fires  on  the  west  slope  of  the  area 
included  in  this  purchase,  but  in  the  spring  of  1917  two  or  three  serious 
fires  broke  out.  One  of  these  killed  some  fifteen  acres  of  the  finest  spruce 
and  balsam  timber  on  the  park.  It  was  from  this  burn  that  later  some 
200,000  feet  of  burnt  timber  was  sold,  and  the  money  used  for  inaugur- 
ating fire  protection. 

Shortly  after  the  occurrence  of  these  fires,  Governor  Bickett  requested 
the  State  Geological  and  Economic  Survey  to  do  what  it  could  to  pro- 
tect this  park  from  fire  and  from  the  damage  to  young  growth  being 
caused  by  some  of  the  visitors.  Since  that  time,  until  the  present,  the 
State  Forester  has  had  the  actual  supervision  of  the  fire  protective  work 
on  the  park  and  has  as  far  as  he  was  able,  on  account  of  the  shortness  of 
funds,  carried  out  a continuous  policy  of  protection.  With  the  appoint- 
ment of  a special  commission  to  administer  the  park  by  the  General 
Assembly  of  1919,  the  responsibility  was  shifted  from  the  Survey,  but  as 
the  State  Forester  was  made  a member  of  the  Commission  the  Survey’s 
connection  with  the  work  was  not  severed  and  the  policy  which  had  been 
inaugurated  was  continued.  The  protection  policy  on  the  park  has 
included  the  following  measures,  all  of  which  have  been  carried  out  as 
far  as  the  limited  funds  available  have  allowed. 

The  park  has  been  placed  in  immediate  charge  of  a forest  warden, 
Mr.  D.  L.  Moser,  who  lives  close  to  the  middle  of  the  park  practically  the 
whole  year.  His  chief  duty  throughout  the  dry  spring  and  fall  seasons 
and  at  other  times  when  any  fire  danger  exists  is  to  patrol  the  park  and 
the  area  which  is  being  lumbered  adjoining  it.  He  travels  along  the 
railroad  lines,  visits  the  steam  skidders,  the  logging  crews  and  other 
places  where  engines  and  men  are  liable  to  set  out  fires.  The  need  for 
this  work  is  shown  by  the  number  of  small  fires  set  by  sparks  from 
engines  which  he  has  extinguished.  During  an  excessively  dry  period 
last  fall  he  reported  that  he  had  extinguished  five  such  fires  a day.  In 
excessively  dangerous  seasons  he  has  been  assisted  by  an  extra  man. 


58 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


As  an  additional  precaution  a strip  100  feet  wide  between  tbe  logged- 
over  area  and  the  live  timber  standing  on  tbe  park  is  being  cleared  of  tbe 
inflammable  brush  and  tree  tops  as  rapidly  as  money  has  become  available 
It  is  hoped  that  this  line  can  be  completed  during  the  present  year. 
Already  one  or  two  fires  burning  in  the  slash  would  undoubtedly  have 
destroyed  a good  deal  of  the  live  timber  had  it  not  been  stopped  by  this 
fire  line. 

During  the  season  when  visitors  and  camping  parties  come  to  the  park 
the  warden  makes  a point  of  looking  after  camp-fires  and  cigarette 
smokers.  Visitors  are  warned  to  be  careful  in  the  use  of  fire  and 
requested  to  cooperate  with  the  State  in  the  protection  of  the  park. 

The  General  Assembly  of  1921  has  discontinued  the  commission  ap- 
pointed two  years  ago  and  transferred  the  care  and  management  of  the 
park  to  the  State  Geological  and  Economic  Survey.  The  law,  chapter 
222,  Public  Laws  of  1921,  reads  as  follows : 

An  Act  to  Provide  for  the  Administration  and  Protection  of  Mount 

Mitchell  State  Park. 

The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  do  enact: 

Section  1.  That  the  North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey  and 
the  Geological  Board  shall  exercise  and  perform  all  the  rights,  powers,  duties 
and  obligations  that  have  been  heretofore  exercised  and  performed  by  the 
Mount  Mitchell  Park  Commission  and  the  Mitchell  Peak  Park  Commission, 
and  said  Survey  and  Board  shall  be  the  lawful  successor  of  said  commissions; 
and  upon  the  passage  of  this  act,  those  portions  of  the  acts  establishing  the 
Mount  Mitchell  Park  Commission  and  the  Mitchell  Peak  Park  Commission  are 
herewith  repealed. 

Sec.  2.  That  said  State  Geological  Board  be  hereby  further  authorized  and 
empowered  to  charge  and  collect  fees  for  the  use  of  such  improvements  as 
have  already  been  constructed,  or  may  hereafter  be  constructed  on  the  Park, 
and  for  other  privileges  connected  with  the  full  use  of  the  Park  by  the  public; 
to  lease  for  camps,  houses,  hotels  and  places  of  amusement  and  business;  and 
to  make  and  enforce  such  necessary  rules  and  regulations  as  may  best  tend 
to  protect,  preserve  and  increase  the  value  and  attractiveness  of  the  park. 

Sec.  3.  That  all  fees  and  other  money  collected  and  received  by  the  State 
Geological  Board  in  connection  with  its  proper  administration  of  Mount 
Mitchell  State  Park  shall  be  used  by  said  board  for  the  administration,  pro- 
tection, improvement  and  maintenance  of  said  park. 

Sec.  4.  That  the  State  Geological  Board  shall  make  an  annual  report  to  the 
Governor  of  all  money  received  and  expended  by  it  in  the  administration  of 
Mount  Mitchell  State  Park  and  of  such  other  items  as  may  be  called  for  by 
him  or  by  the  General  Assembly. 

Sec.  5.  That  all  laws  and  clauses  of  laws  in  conflict  with  this  act  are 
hereby  repealed. 

Sec.  6.  That  this  act  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after  ratification. 

Ratified  this  the  9th  day  of  March,  A.  D.  1921. 

Tbe  cooperation  of  tbe  National  Forest  officers  on  duty  to  tbe  east 
of  tbe  park  bas  been  secured,  and  telephone  connection  witb  tbern  and 
with  tbe  Bell  telephone  at  Marion  bas  been  made.  Tbe  keeper  of  tbe 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


59 


park  can  now  communicate  with  most  of  the  forest  officials  on  the  Boone 
National  Forest  and  can  when  necessary  connect  with  the  general  tele- 
phone system  throughout  the  State.  In  addition  to  this  a Federal  pa- 
trolman, under  the  direction  of  the  State  Forester,  has  been  on  duty 
in  Pensacola  Township,  Yancey  County,  in  which  most  of  the  park  is 
situated.  This  man  has  assisted,  by  patrol  and  educational  work,  in 
keeping  down  fires  on  the  lower  slopes  of  the  mountain.  The  lumber 
company  operating  on  the  west  side  of  the  park  and  below  it  has  been 
appealed  to  from  time  to  time  to  do  everything  possible  to  prevent  fires 
on  their  operations  and  they  have  shown  a disposition  to  do  what  they 
can  along  these  lines.  They  have  agreed  to  maintain  hoods  or  spark 
arresters  on  their  locomotives,  and  to  use  all  men  available  for  extinguish- 
ing fires  whenever  they  get  well  started.  It  is  expected  that  all  timber 
owned  by  this  company  will  soon  be  cut  and  their  operations  will  cease. 
Undoubtedly  the  danger  to  the  park  from  fire  will  be  greatly  reduced 
when  this  happens. 

This  act  provides  no  special  fund  for  protecting  or  administering  the 
park  but  opens  a way  whereby  funds  for  this  purpose  may  be  secured. 
It  is  expected  that  the  State  Geological  Board  will  shortly  approve  some 
preliminary  measures,  which  it  is  hoped  may  eventually  result  in  secur- 
ing sufficient  funds  for  the  proper  protection  and  administration  of  the 
park.  For  the  first  year  or  two,  however,  the  results  will  undoubtedly 
be  small  and  the  Survey’s  own  appropriation  will  have  to  be  drawn  upon 
to  meet  the  necessary  protection  expenses.  The  same  policy  will  be  con- 
tinued that  has  been  in  effect  heretofore,  and  every  effort  will  be  made  to 
protect  the  live  standing  timber  which  is  now  the  great  beauty  and  attrac- 
tion of  the  park. 


APPENDIX 


VOLUNTARY  TOWNSHIP  FOREST  FIRE  CORRESPONDENTS  IN  NORTH 
CAROLINA  REPORTING  FOR  1920 


MOUNTAIN  REGION 


ALLEGHANY 


Township 

Name 

Address 

Cherry  Lane 

J.  T.  Miles 

Cherry  Lane 

G.  W.  Miles 

Miles 

0.  0.  Smith 

Doughton 

Cranberry 

J.  M.  Blevins 

Gray 

J.  J.  Miller 

Laurel  Springs 

Gap  Civil 

Glade  Creek 

A.  0.  Carico 

Edmonds 

Piney  Creek 

C.  L.  Hash 

Piney  Creek 

Prathers  Creek 

Whitehead 

Wiley  Combs 

Whitehead 

ASHE 

Chestnut  Hill 

J.  E.  Gambill 

Grumpier 

J.  F.  Oliver 

Crumpler 

Clifton 

J.  C.  Roland 

Clifton 

Creston 

J.  R.  McMillan 

Creston 

Helton 

Charles  F.  Sexton 

Grassy  Creek 

Horse  Creek 

W.  E.  Perry 

Grayson 

M.  Neech 

Edison 

C.  C.  Barker 

Park,  Va.,  R.  F. 

Adolphus  Shepherd  Edison 

J efferson 

Laurel 

North  Fork 

Obids 

D.  H.  Burgess 

Obids 

Old  Fields 

E.  E.  Trivett 

Beaver  Creek 

Peak  Creek 

G.  B.  Austin 

Laurel  Springs 

W.  L.  Miller 

Laurel  Springs 

W.  N.  G.  Wellborn  Laurel  Springs 

Piney  Creek 

H.  M.  Ashley 

Lansing 

Jonathan  Perry 

Husk 

Pine  Swamp 

V.  L.  Moretz 

Hopkins 

Walnut  Hill 

AVERY 

Altamont 

W.  C.  Franklin 

Altamont 

Banner  Elk 

T.  L.  Lowe 

Banner  Elk 

Beech  Mountain 

F.  C.  Palmer 

Heaton 

L.  W.  McGuire 

Whaley 

Cranberry 

Linville 

J.  L.  Hartley 

Linville 

E.  C.  Robbins 

Pineola 

Roaring  Creek 

Toe  River 

J.  P.  Hall 

Plumtree 

Wilsons  Creek 

Monroe  Coffey 

Edgemont 

BUNCOMBE 


Township 
Asheville 
Averys  Creek 
Beaverdam 

Name 

Address 

Biltmore 

J.  M.  Wagoner 

Biltmore 

Black  Mountain 
Fairview 

W.  H.  Burnett 

Black  Mountain 

Flat  Creek 

H.  C.  Blackstock 

Stocks  ville 

French  Broad 
Haw  Creek 
Hazel 

W.  H.  Hunter 

Alexander 

Ivy 

M.  T.  Arrowood 

Democrat 

Leicester 
Limestone 
Lower  Hominy 

J.  H.  Woodward 

Democrat 

Reems  Creek 

W.  C.  Sprinkle 

Weaverville 

J.  C.  Roberts 

Weaverville 

Sandy  Mush 

W.  E.  Waldrop 

Sandy  Mush 

■ Swannanoa 

A.  L.  Ingle 

Odessa 

Upper  Hominy 

J.  S.  Smith 

Candler 

J.  C.  Waters 

Candler 

J.  C.  Curtis 

Candler,  R.  3 

BURKE 

J.  C.  Byrd 

Candler 

Icard 

Jonas  Ridge 

G.  L.  Stine 

Hildebran 

Linville 

Lovelady 

L.  P.  Guigou 

Valdese 

L.  L.  Lowman 

Connelly  Springs 

D.  W.  Lowman 

Connelly  Springs 

Lower  Creek 

J.  V.  Powell 

Morganton 

Lower  Fork 
Morganton , No.  1 
Morganton , No.  2 
Quaker  Meadow 

W.  P.  Corpening 

W'orry 

Silver  Creek 

J.  A.  Wainwright 

Morganton,  R.  1 

A.  H.  Conley 

Morganton,  R.  1 

Smoky  Creek 

S.  C.  Bennett 

Bridgewater 

Upper  Creek 
Upper  Fork 

M.  S.  Arney 

Worry 

62 

Forest  Fires  in 

North  Carolina 

CALDWELL 

HAYWOOD— Continued 

Township 

Name 

Address 

Township 

Name 

Address 

Globe 

J.  B.  Moore 

Globe 

Fines  Creek 

George  A.  Brown 

Crabtree 

James  Moore 

Globe 

Iron  Duff 

D.  O.  Moore 

Globe 

Ivy  Hill 

Hudson 

Jonathans  Creek 

Robert  Howell 

Waynes  vi  lie 

Johns  River 

W.  T.  Mays 

Lenoir,  R.  F.  D. 

E.  J.  Howell 

Waynes  ville 

Kings  Creek 

G.  M.  Icenhour 

Kings  Creek 

Pigeon 

Wm.  Ledbetter 

Canton,  R.  2 

Pickens  Barlow 

Kings  Creek 

W.  W.  Wilson 

Canton,  R.  2 

Lenoir 

J.  L.  Suddreth 

Lenoir 

H.  P.  Ledbetter 

Canton,  R.  2 

A.  K.  Joy 

Lenoir 

W aynesville 

W.  M.  Tate 

Waynes  ville 

G.  A.  Tuttle 

Lenoir,  R.  5 

White  Oak 

W.  0.  Moore 

Lenoir 

R.  R.  Corpening 

Lenoir,  R.  5 

HENDERSON 

Little  River 

T.  E.  Story 

Lenoir 

Blue  Ridge 

A.  K.  Hyder 

Saconom 

Lovelady 

Harvey  Abernethy  Granite  Falls 

Clear  Creek 

R.  M.  Pryor 

Hendersonville 

G.  W.  Sherrill 

Granite  Falls 

G.  N.  Sentell 

Hendersonville, 

Lower  Creek 

Crab  Creek 

Mulberry 

J.  C.  Coffey 

Lenoir,  R.  4 

Edneyville 

A.  S.  Edney 

Hendersonville 

North  Catawba 

Lonnie  R.  Rhodes 

Hendersonville 

Patterson 

C.  J.  Dobbins 

Finley 

C.  Oates 

Bear  Wallow 

John  R.  Hagaman  Patterson 

Green  River 

W.  F.  Pace 

Zirconia 

T.  S.  Setser 

Patterson 

J.  W.  Ward 

Zirconia 

Wilson  Creek 

Hendersonville 

George  Gillespie 

Horse  Shoe 

Yadkin  Valley 

R.  L.  Miller 

Buffalo  Cove 

A.  Cannon 

Horse  Shoe 

Hugh  A.  Dobben 

Legerwood 

G.  H.  Blankenship  Hillgirt 

C.  S.  Whitaker 

Hendersonville, 

CHEROKEE 

John  Eubanks 

Hendersonville 

Beaver  dam 

Hooper  Creek 

J.  V.  Russell 

Fletcher 

Hothouse 

T.  T.  Johnson 

Culberson,  R.  2 

J.  P.  Fletcher 

Fletcher 

Murphy 

J.  T.  Hayes 

Tomotla 

Mills  River 

George  Gillespie 

Horse  Shoe 

Notla 

A.  H.  Davidson 

Letitia 

J.  W.  Morgan 

Hendersonville 

Shoal  Creek 

G. M.  Jones 

Posted 

J.  P.  Whitaker 

Horse  Shoe 

V alleytown 

S.  H.  Parker 

Marble 

J.  H.  Murray 

Horse  Shoe 

R.  A.  Dewar 

Andrews 

G.  M.  Brittain 

Horse  Shoe 

CLAY 

JACKSON 

Brasstown 

T.  B.  Hampton 

Brasstown 

Barkers  Creek 

Hayesville 

Ernest  D.  Penland  Hayesville 

Canada 

A.  E.  Galloway 

Wolf  Mountain 

T.  C.  Moore 

Hayesville 

W.  T.  Rigdon 

Argura 

W.  T.  Bumgarner 

Hayesville 

Caney  Fork 

G.  T.  Nicholson 

Cowarts 

S.  J.  Bristol 

Hayesville 

W.  H.  Hooper 

Cowarts 

Hiwassee 

Cashiers  Valley 

C.  G.  Rogers 

Cashiers 

Shooting  Creek 

N.  N.  Rogers 

Shooting  Creek 

Cullowhee 

Tusquittee 

Ed.  T.  Shearer 

Hayesville 

Dillsboro 

J.  Y.  A.  Moore 

Hayesville 

Greens  Creek 

J.  C.  Reed 

Greens  Creek 

Hamburg 

D.  P.  Moss 

Glenville 

GRAHAM 

L.  A.  Wilson 

Big  Ridge 

Cheoah 

Mountain 

Stecoah 

M.  A.  Crisp 

Stecoah 

Qualla 

J.  B.  Andrews 

Japan 

River 

S.  M.  Parker 

Tuckaseigee 

Yellow  Creek 

J.  L.  Green 

Fontana 

Savannah 

Scott  Creek 

W.  T.  Derrick 

Balsam 

HAYWOOD 

Sylva 

R.  W.  Fisher 

Sylva,  R.  1 

Beaverdam 

B.  W.  Hall 

Canton 

Webster 

Cataloochee 

W.  M.  Sutton 

Cataloochee 

Cecil 

MACON 

Clyde 

Burningtown 

Robert  Ramsey 

Tellico 

Crabtree 

Albert  McCracken 

Clyde,  R.  1 

Cartoogechaye 

J.  L.  Walker 

Clyde 

Cowee 

W.  J.  Jenkins 

Wests  Mill 

C.  E.  Williams 

Crabtree 

J.  A.  Lakey 

Etna 

East  Fork 

B.  F.  Sellers 

Cruso 

Ellijay 

Noah  L.  Jollay 

Cullasaja 

Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


63 


MACON— Continued 


Township 

Name 

Address 

Flatts 

J.  E.  Vinson 

Dillard,  Ga. 

Franklin 

N.  L.  Barnard 

Franklin 

Highlands 

J.  B.  Phillips 

Shortoff 

Millshoal 

T.  G.  Harbison 

Highlands 

Nantahala 
Smith  Bridge 

Jos.  W.  Gregory 

Aquone 

Sugar  Fork 

MADISON 

No.  1 
No.  2 

J.  M.  Kenner 

Scroll 

No.  3 

Thos.  J.  Murray 

Marshall 

No.  4 

W.  B.  Holcomb 

Waverly 

No.  5 
No.  6 

Dick  Murray 

Mars  Hill,  R.  2 

No.  7 

J.  J.  Ledford 

Marshall,  R.  5 

R.  F.  Payne 

Marshall 

No.  8 

H.  S.  Davis 

Spring  Creek 

G.  W.  Sawyer 

Bluff 

No.  9 
No.  10 

D.  H.  Gardner 

Paint  Rock 

No.  11 

E.  E.  Bryan 

Faust 

W.  M.  English 

Faust 

No.  12 

Jacob  A.  Marley 

Marley 

W.  B.  Randall 

Barnard 

No.  13 

W.  A.  Norris 

Joe 

J.  E.  Gregory 

Joe 

No.  H 

T.  F.  Stormy 

Joe 

No.  16 

J.  A.  Ball 

Mars  Hill 

No.  16 

J.  A.  Ramsey 

Mars  Hill 

McDowell 


Brackett 

Broad  River 

W.  L.  Nanney 

Black  Mountain 

Crooked  Creek 

A.  B.  Burger 

Old  Fort 

Dysartsville 

R.  F.  Sisk 

Nebo 

Glenwood 

J.  B.  Kirksey 

Dysartsville 

Higgins 

L.  A.  Haney 

Nealsville 

Marion 

W.  L.  Ferguson 

Marion 

Montford  Cove 

D.  A.  Snipes 

Garden  City 

Nebo 

North  Cove 

J.  B.  Lonon 

Ashford 

Old  Fort 

MITCHELL 

J.  H.  Young 

Old  Fort 

Bakersville 

W.  L.  Lambert 

Bakersville 

W.  J.  Slagle 

Bakersville 

Bradshaw 

E.  D.  Bowditch 

Toecane 

Cane  Creek 

T.  A.  Buchanan 

Hawk 

Fork  Mountain 
Grassy  Creek 
Harrell 
Little  Rock 

D.  M.  Cook 

Bakersville 

Poplar 

Billie  Peterson 

Poplar 

M ITCH  ELL — Continued 


Township 

Name 

Address 

Poplar 

M.  D.  Peterson 

Huntdale 

Ed.  Barnett 

Relief 

Red  Hill 

Snow  Creek 

POLK 

Columbus 

Cooper  Gap 

W.  W.  Gibbs 

Mill  Spring 

Greens  Creek 

J.  W.  McFarland 

Rutherfordton,  R.  1 

R.  L.  Camp 

Rutherfordton,  R.  2 

W.  M.  Barnett 

Landrum,  S.  C.,R.l 

Saluda 

Thomas  E.  Pace 

Fish  Top 

Henry  P.  Corwith 

Saluda 

Try  on 

James  M.  Butler 

Tryon 

D.  E.  Conner 

Tryon 

White  Oak 

J.  M.  Lewis 

Mill  Spring 

RUTHERFORD 

Camp  Creek 

H.  Forney 

Union  Mills 

Chimney  Rock 

M.  A.  Searcy 

Mill  Spring,  R.  2 

F.  L.  Logan 

Chimney  Rock 

Paul  F.  Searcy 

Uree,  R.  1 

Colfax 

Cool  Spring 

J.  B.  Dill 

Forest  City 

Ambrose  Crotts 

Forest  City 

Duncan  Creek 

Gilkey 

J.  D.  Fincannon 

Union  Mills,  R.  3 

Golden  Valley 

L.  S.  Rollins 

Bostic,  R.  4 

Green  Hill 

R.  Ledbetter 

Uree 

High  Shoal 

T.  H.  Ferree 

Caroleen 

Logan  Store 

Morgan 

E.  C.  Hains 

Union  Mills 

W.  J.  Hardin 

Rutherfordton,  R.  3 

Rutherford 

Sulphur  Springs 

Union 

James  M.  Owens 

Rutherfordton, 

[R.F.D. 

SURRY 

Bryan 

B.  J.  Snow 

State  Road 

W.  J.  Nixon 

Kapps  Mill 

Dobson 

J.  F.  Nance 

Dobson 

Eldorado 

Elkin 

C.  W.  Young 

Elkin 

Franklin 

J.  M.  Todd 

Low  Gap 

Long  Hill 

T.  W.  Bryant 

Ararat 

F.  A.  Ashburn 

Mount  Airy,  R.  1 

Marsh 

H.  E.  Beamer 

Rusk 

Mount  Airy 

Pilot 

D.  J.  Denny 

Pinnacle,  R.  3 

Rockford 

J.  W.  Harbour 

Rockford 

J.  G.  Burrus 

Rockford 

Shoals 

M.  F.  Butner 

Pinnacle 

C.  W.  Key 

Pinnacle 

Siloam 

Stewarts  Creek 

I.  W.  Reece 

Mount  Airy,  R.  3 

Westfield 

H.  E.  Taylor 

Pilot  Mountain 

D.  H.  Jessup 

Brim 

T.  L.  Brim 

Brim 

W.  W.  W.  Amburn  Mount  Airy,  R.  1 


64 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


swain 


WILKES — Continued 


Township 

Name 

Address 

Township 

Name 

Charleston 

D.  DeHart 

Bryson  City 

Edwards 

M.  F.  Barker 

Forneys  Creek 

G.  I.  Calhoun 

Proctor 

E.  W.  Settle 

Allen  Welch 

Proctor 

Elk 

S.  S.  Barlow 

Nantahala 

E.  H.  Potter 

Nantahala 

G.  W.  Welch 

W.  H.  Baker 

Judson 

Jobs  Cabin 

J.  W.  Church 

Ocona  Lufty 

TRANSYLVANIA 

Boyd 

James  M.  Case 

Brevard,  R.  2 

Lewis  Fork 
Lovelace 

E.  C.  Foster 

F.  F.  Wolf 
U.  G.  Foster 
R.  V.  Wright 
Parks  M.  Reid 

Brevard 
Catheys  Creek 

J.  M.  Hamlin 

Brevard 

Moravian  Falls 

C.  C.  Wright 
W.  G.  Meadows 

F.  Poxton 

Cherryfield 

Mulberry 

H.  H.  Jennings 

H.  C.  Fenwick 

Selica 

New  Castle 

G.  W.  Sale 

Dunns  Rock 
Eastatoe 

E.  M.  Whitmire 

Rosman 

North  Wilkesboro 

C.  M.  Welborn 

Gloucester 

Jesse  M.  McCall 

Balsam  Grove 

Reddies  River 

Hogback 

T.  C.  McCall 

Quebec 

Rock  Creek 

T.  J.  McNeill 

Little  River 

J.  C.  Capps 

Pisgah  Forest 

W.  N.  Alexander 

A.  J.  Beddingfield 

Penrose 

Somers 

S.  A.  Mitchell 

WATAUGA 

Stanton 
Trap  Hill 

G.  W.  Brow’n 

Bald  Mountain 
Beaverdam 

Smith  Hagaman 

Vilas 

Union 

Walnut  Grove 

David  Roten 
J.  L.  Whittington 
W.  L.  Brewer 

Blowing  Rock 

S.  C.  Eggers 
R.  K.  Hartley 

Vilas 

Blowing  Rock 

Wilkesboro 

George  E.  Blevins 
W.  D.  Wood 

Blue  Ridge 

W.  D.  Cook 

Blowing  Rock,  R.  1 

J.  E.  Winkler 

Boone 

William  L.  Trivett  Boone 

Cove  Creek 

N.  L.  Mast 

Mast 

A.  G.  Hendren 

Elk 

T.  L.  Critcher 

Bamboo 

H.  H.  Morehouse 

Laurel  Creek 
Meat  Camp 


North  Fork 


Shawneehaw 
Stony  Fork 
Watauga 


J.  W.  Hayes 
D.  Charles  Mast 
W.  W.  Norris 
C.  G.  Hodges 
F.  C.  Hodges 
J.  M.  May 
J.  O.  J.  Potter 
F.  M.  Thomas 


G.  W.  Robbins 
J.  F.  Gregg 


WILKES 

Antioch  L.  M.  Jarvis 

Beaver  Creek  Vance  McGhinnis 

Boomer  T.  C.  McGhinnis 

J.  E.  Phillips 
Brushy  Mountain  J.  J.  Hendren 
A.  C.  Parker 
A.  N.  Vannoy 


ALAMANCE 

Albright 
Boone  Station 
Coble 


Bamboo 
Sugar  Grove 
Sands 
Sands 
Sands 

Trade,  Tenn.,  R.  2 
Tamarack 
Trade,  Tenn. 


Shulls  Mills 
Shulls  Mills 


Roaring  River 

Boomer 

Boomer 

Boomer 

Pores  Knob 

Gilreath 

Pores  Knob 


YANCEY 

Brush  Creek 


Burnsville 
Cane  River 


Crabtree 

Egypt 

Green  Mountain 


Jacks  Creek 


Pensacola 
Price  Creek 
Ramseytown 
South  Toe 


G.  Penley  Deyton 
A.  O.  Greene 

W.  S.  Edwards 
Gus  F.  Hensley 

R.  A.  Radford 

D.  M.  Buck 

D.  C.  Renfro 
J.  M.  Howell 

S.  H.  Bryant 
W.  D.  Peterson 
Carl  T.  Young 
A.  V.  Honeycutt 
R.  R.  Ray 

Joe  Robison 
J.  A.  Hannum 
Aaron  Shuford 

E.  N.  Harrison 
Arthur  Patton 


W.  L.  Cates 
G.  A.  Nicholson 
J.  F.  Homewood 


PIEDMONT  REGION 

ALAMANCE— Continued 

Faucett  J.  H.  Tapscott 

Graham  Lewis  H.  Holt 

Burlington  R.  N.  Cook 

Burlington,  R.  1 H.  J.  Stockard 

Burlington  Haw  River  J.  H.  Blackman 


Address 
Benham 
Benham 
Ferguson 
Mount  Zion 
Summit 
Purlear 
Purlear 
Champion 
Hunting  Creek 
Spurgeon 
Hunting  Creek 
Pores  Knob 
North  Wilkesboro 
Ronda 
New  Castle 


Roaring  River 
N.  Wilkesboro,  R.  2 
New  Castle 

Trap  Hill 
Sherman 
Reddies  River 
Brewers 
Springfield 
Wilkesboro 
Wilkesboro,  R.  2 
Straw' 

Oakwoods 


Green  Mountain 
Green  Mountain 

Cane  River 
Bald  Creek 
Cane  River 

Bald  Mountain 
Green  Mountain 
Green  Mountain 
Dale 

Day  Book 

Day  Book 

Burnsville 

Pensacola 

Paint  Gap 

Ramseydown 

Celo 

Celo 

Harvard 


Union  Ridge 
Graham 
Graham 
Graham 
Haw  River 


Forest  Fires  in  FTorth  Carolina 


ALAMANCE— Continued  CATAWBA 


Townski-p 

Name 

Address 

Township 

Name 

Melville 

J.  T.  Shaw 

Mebane 

Bandy 

Morton 

J.  T.  Bowles 

Altamahaw,  R.  2 

Caldwell 

T.  L.  Bandy 

Newlin 

R.  T.  Moore 

Saxapahaw 

Catawba 

P.  L.  Smyre 

North  Burlington 

Clines 

W.  A.  Hoke 

Patterson 

R.  Z.  Hornaday 

Rock  Creek 

J.  H.  C.  Huitt 

R.  G.  Thompson 

Rock  Creek,  R.  2 

G.  W.  Winebarger 

Pleasant  Grove 

W.  B.  Sellers 

Mebane,  R.  3 

Hickory 

W.  P.  Bowman 

South  Burlington 

Jacobs  Fork 

Thompson 

W.  M.  Overman 

Graham,  R.  2 

Mountain  Creek 

ALEXANDER 

Ellendale 

H.  G.  Paris 

Graham,  R.  2 

Newton 

CHATHAM 

J.  Y.  Killian 

Gwaltneys 

Albright 

_W.  J.  Thompson 

Little  River 

W.  J.  Bumgarner 

Taylorsville 

Baldwin 

C.  A.  Snipes 

Miller 

J.  T.  Hedrick 

Stony  Point,  R.  3 

Bear  Creek 

Alex.  B.  Phillips 

Sharpes 

Thos.  F.  Murdock 

Hiddenite 

Cape  Fear 

A.  A.  Somers 

Stony  Point 

Center 

James  L.  Griffin 

Sugar  Loaf 

J.  Partee  Russell 

T aylorsville 

Gulf 

Grover  C.  Phillips 

Taylorsville 

Hadley 

Wittenburg 

Haw  River 

Hickory  Mountain 

ANSON 

Matthews 

Ansonville 

Burnsville 

Gulledge 

Lanesboro 

Lilesville 

B.  D.  Nelme 

Wadesboro 

New  Hope 

Oakland 

Williams 

CLEVELAND 

J.  E.  Williams 

Morven 

No.  1 

E.  B.  Hamrick 

Wadesboro 
White  Store 

J.  T.  Leonard 

Peachland,  R.  3 

No.  2 
No.  3 

R.  B.  McBee 

CABARRUS 

No.  4 

H.  W.  Gallinure 

No.  1 

No.  5 

C.  C.  Bram 

No.  2 

S.  L.  Dellinger 

No.  3 

C.  H.  Hamilton 

Davidson 

T.  L.  Hord 

No.  4 

E.  E.  Lady 

Kannapolis 

No.  6 

J.  F.  Roberts 

No.  5 

L.  J.  Sapp 

Concord 

No.  6 

John  A.  Suther 

Concord,  R.  4 

No.  7 

M.  M.  Greene 

No.  7 

C.  L.  Earnhardt 

Gold  Hill,  R.  3 

J.  B.  Lattimore 

J.  W.  Honeycutt 

Gold  Hill,  R.  3 

No.  8 

W.  W.  Washburn 

No.  8 

L.  A.  Lipe 

Mount  Pleasant 

H.  E.  Foil 

Mount  Pleasant 

No.  9 

No.  9 

D.  M.  Coley 

Georgeville 

No.  10 

J.  M.  Carpenter 

George  C.  Shinn 

Georgeville 

J.  R.  Hoyle 

No.  10 

H.  T.  Baker 

Norwood 

No.  11 

Dr.  Joseph  Willis 

John  S.  Turner 

Stanfield 

No.  11 
No.  12 

DAVIDSON 

Abbotts  Creek 

CASWELL 

Alleghany 

F.  M.  Cook 

Anderson 

A.  H.  Michael 

Dan  River 

D.  G.  Watkins 

Blanch 

C.W.  Stokes 

Hightowers 

W.  R.  Morgan 

Prospect  Hill 

Arcadia 

Isaac  P.  Fischel 

Leasburg 

Geo.  B.  Connally 

Leasburg 

Boone 

Locust  Hill 

J.  B.  Worsham 

Mclver,  R.  F.  D. 

Conrad  Hill 

Milton 

J.  B.  Yarbrough 

Semora 

Cotton  Grove 

Pelham 

Emmons 

Stony  Creek 

Hampton 

W.  L.  Davis 

Yanceyville 

J.  W.  Wiggins 

Yanceyville 

Healing  Springs 

J.  A.  Kinney 

W.  N.  Harrelson 

Yanceyville 

Jackson  Hill 

65 


Address 

Catawba 

Claremont 

Claremont 

Catawba,  R.  1 

Conover 

Hickory 


Newton 


Siler  City,  R.  1,  Box 
Bynum  [54 

Bennett 

Pittsboro 
Bear  Creek 


Chapel  Hill,  R.  1 


Boiling  Springs 
Gaffney,  S.  C.,  R.  9 


Kings  Mountain 
Waco 

Shelby,  R.  1 

Waco 

Shelby 

Mooresboro 
Lattimore 
Shelby,  R.  4 

Belwood 
Belwood,  R.  1 
Belwood,  R.  1,  Box 
(19 


Handy 
Chandler 
Newsom 
Clemmons,  R.  2 


Clemmons 
High  Rock 


5 


66 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


DAVIDSON— Continued 


GASTON 


Township 

Nam.e 

Address  Township 

Name 

Address 

Lemelys 

Cherryville 

L.  H.  J.  Houser 

Cherryville 

Lexington 

Jacob  Kiser 

Bessemer  City 

Midway 

James  Nifong 

Winston-Salem,  R.4  Crowders  Mtn. 

John  J.  Ormand 

Bessemer  City 

Reedy  Creek 

John  S.  Hege 

Clemmons,  R.  2 Dallas 

0.  F.  Carpenter 

Worth 

Silver  Hill 

C.  A.  Hedrick 

Lexington,  R.  6 

J.  A.  Friday 

Dallas,  R.  1 

Thomasville 

J.  W.  Bowers 

Thomasville 

D.  A.  Medlin 

High  Shoals 

Tyro 

Joe  Sink 

Lexington,  R.  5,  Gastonia 

F.  F.  Snyder 

Linwood  [Box  25  River  Bend 

W.  B.  Rutledge 

Mount  Holly 

Yadkin  College 

Edw.  L.  Greene 

Yadkin  College  South  Point 

J.  R.  Henderson 

Lowell 

M.  F.  Phillips 

Yadkin  College 

GRANVILLE 

DAVIE 

Calahaln 

A.  D.  Ratledge 

~ . . . Brassfield 

Calahaln  7.  , , 

~ Dutchville 

J.  H.  Perry 

Creedmoor 

Clarksville 

D.  R.  Eaton 

Cana  ^ 

Farmington 

Fulton 

M.  J.  Hendricks 
G.  T.  Tucker 

~ Fishing  Creek 

^na  Oak  Hill 

Advance  „ „ 

E.  C.  Harris 
D.  T.  Winston 

Oxford 

Virgilina,  Va„  R.  2 

Jerusalem 

J.  D.  Goins 

^ , Oxford 

Cooleemee  e 

B.  S.  Royster 

Oxford 

Mocksville 

James  H.  Cain 

Mocksville  J2  em 

Shady  Grove 

Sassafras  Fork 
Tally  Ho 

C.  C.  Heggie 
W.  S.  Gooch 

Stovall 

Stem 

Walnut  Grove 

L.  B.  McFarland 

Berea,  R.  1 

DURHAM 

B.  T.  Dean 

Oxford,  R.  4 

Carr 

GUILFORD 

Cedar  Fork 

Bruce 

Durham 

J.  W.  Ferrell 

Durham,  R.  2,  Box  Center  Grow 

L.  A.  Walker 

Summerfield 

Lebanon 

J.  E.  Cole 

Durham,  R.  2 [129  Clay 

G.  A.  Garrett 

J.  N.  W.  Latta 

Durham,  R.  2 Deep  River 

Mangum 

VV.  J.  Young 

Rougemont  Fentress 

J.  B.  Watlington 

Pleasant  Garden 

Oak  Grove 

Friendship 

S.  A.  Kirkman 

Guilford  College, 

Patterson 

P.  H.  Massey 

Durham,  R.  3 Gilmer 

[R.l 

Greene 

L.  W.  Causey 

Liberty 

FORSYTH 

High  Point 

Abbotts  Creek 

E.  L.  Carter 

Kernersville  Jamestown 

Belews  Creek 

J efferson 

E.  S.  Holt 

McLeans  ville 

Bethania 

Madison 

Broad  Bay 

W.  R.  Rominger 

107  Flat  Rock  St.,  Monroe 

Winston-Salem  Morehead 

C.  N.  Reed 

Winston-Salem,  R.5  Oak  Ridge 

Clemmonsville 

Rock  Creek 

W.  R.  Wood 

Gibsonville 

Kernersville 

D.  VV.  Harmon 

Kernersville  Sumner 

R.  C.  Short 

Greensboro,  R.  1 

Lewisville 

A.  0.  Newman 

Greensboro,  R.  1 

Old  Richmond 

J.  D.  Anderson 

Tobaccoville  IREDELL 

O.  V.  Pfaff 

Tobaccoville  Barringer 

J.  R.  Wall 

Tobaccoville,  R.  3,  Bethany 

Old  Town 

(Box  14  Chambersburg 

Salem  Chapel 

J.  A.  Marshall 

Walnut  Cove  Coddle  Creek 

South  Fork 

J.  M.  Jarvis 

Winston-Salem,  R.l  Concord 

Vienna 

C.  F.  Micker 

Pfaff  town  Cool  Spring 

V.  C.  Montgomery  Statesville.  R.  7 

West  Salem 

Davidson 

Winston 

J.  C.  Bessart 

Winston-Salem  Eagle  Mills 

G.  W.  Baity 

Harmony 

R.  W.  Pou 

Winston-Salem 

T.  L.  Barnard 

Houstonville 

FRANKLIN 

A.  F.  Cook 

Harmony,  R.  3 

Cedar  Rock 

T.  W.  Stokes 

Louisburg 

P.  B.  Kennedy 

Houstonville 

Cypress  Creek 

Marvin  W.  Smith 

Harmony 

Dunn 

Fallistown 

Franklinton 

New  Hope 

J.  L.  Reid 

New  Hope 

Gold  Mine 

Olin 

Harris 

N.  B.  Young 

Louisburg,  R.  1 Sharpsburg 

W.  B.  McLelland 

Stony  Point 

Hayesville 

K.  C.  Hawkins 

Kittrell,  R.  F.  D.  Shiloh 

Louisburg 

Statesville 

E.  S.  Millsaps 

Statesville 

.Sandy  Creek 

G.  C.  Parrish 

G upton  Turner  sburg 

J.  N.  Barron 

Harmony 

Young  sville 

Robert  F.  Gaither 

Hhrmony 

Fokest  Fikes  in  ISToeth  Caeolina 


07 


LEE  MOORE 


Township 

Name 

Address 

Township 

Name 

Address 

Cape  Fear 

J.  F.  Jonas 

Broadway 

Ben  Salem 

John  A.  Copeland 

Eagle  Springs 

L.  L.  Thomas 

Jonesboro 

M.  A.  Monroe 

Eagle  Springs 

Deep  River 

Carthage 

East  Sanford 

Deep  River 

Greenwood 

J.  J.  Edwards 

Lemon  Springs 

Greenwood 

M.  D.  McLean 

Cameron 

Jonesboro 

Pocket 

J.  W.  Knott 

Sanford,  R.  1 

McNeills 

H.  P.  McPherson 

Cameron 

West  Sanford 

Mineral  Springs 

Pinehurst  General 

Office 

Pinehurst 

LINCOLN 

Ritters 

J.  T.  Seawell 

Putnam 

Catawba  Springs  J.  G.  Morrison 

Stanley 

Sandhills 

Sheffields 

Howards  Creek 

W.  C.  Kiser 

Reepsville 

H.  K.  Sullivan 

Lincolnton 

fronton 

G.  B.  Goodson 

Lincolnton,  R.  3 

ORANGE 

George  M.  Michael  Iron  Station 

Bingham 

Thos.  J.  Oldham 

Mebane,  R.  2 

J.  E.  Reinhardt 

Iron  Station 

Cedar  Grove 

Lincolnton 

Chapel  Hill 

M.  Lindsay 

Chapel  Hill 

North  Brook 

C.  L.  Eaker 

Cherry ville,  R.  1 

J.  M.  Lloyd 

Hillsboro,  R.  3 

T,  Pate  Jenks 

Henry,  R.  3 

Cheeks 

James  0.  Webb 

Efland 

Eno 

Robert  M.  Hill 

Hillsboro 

MECKLENBURG 

Hillsboro 
Little  River 

Berryhill 

Charlotte 

J.  A.  Baldwin 

Charlotte 

J.  Y.  Orders 

Charlotte,  R.  2 

PERSON 

Clear  Creek 

Allenville 

Crab  Orchard 

Bushy  Fork 

R.  S.  Bayner 

Hurdle  Mills,  R.  2 

Deweese 

Walter  P.  Sloan 

Davidson 

Cunningham 

Huntersville 

M.  W.  Van  Pelt 

Huntersville 

Flat  River 

James  C.  Cates 

Timberlake 

Lemleys 

James  F.  Blythe 

Huntersville,  R.  22 

Holloway 

J.  B.  Barnett 

Woodsdale 

J.  A.  Boyles 

Davidson,  R.  25 

G.  E.  Woody 

Woodsdale 

Long  Creek 

Mount  Tirzah 

Mallard  Creek 

H.  Y.  Galloway 

Derita,  R.  14 

Olive  Hill 

T.  C.  Wagstaff 

Roxboro 

A.  F.  Long 

Charlotte,  R.  8 

W.  A.  Winstead 

Roxboro 

Morning  Star 
Paw  Creek 
Pineville 
Providence 
Sharon 

A.  B.  Hood 

Matthews,  R.  27 

Roxboro 

Woodsdale 

RANDOLPH 

Asheboro 

J.  S.  Ridge 

Asheboro 

Steele  Creek 

C.  R.  Choate 

Charlotte,  R.  3 

J.  L.  Mi  11  wee 

Pineville,  R.  15 

Back  Creek 

N.  H.  Ferguson 

Randleman 

J.  T.  Redding 

Randleman,  R.  3 

Brower 

W.  M.  Moffitt 

Moffitt 

MONTGOMERY 

M.  F.  Wrenn 

Steeds,  R.  1 

Biscoe 

N.  C.  McLeod 

Biscoe 

Cedar  Grove 

J.  M.  Wright 

Biscoe 

Coleridge 

H.  T.  Bray 

Ramseur 

Cheeks  Creek 

C.  E.  Brookshire 

Mount  Gilead,  R.  3 

Enterprise  Mfg.Co.  Coleridge 

D.  J.  Poole 

Pekin 

H.  P.  Moffitt 

Ramseur 

Eldorado 

J.  A.  Kirk 

Eldorado 

W.  C.  Stout 

Ramseur 

N.  M.  Thayer 

Eldorado 

Columbia 

John  T.  Turner 

Ramseur 

Hill 

Carl  McGill 

Steeds 

J.  A.  Ward 

Ramseur 

Hollingsworth 

E.  R.  Sheffield 

Candor 

E.  C.  Watkins 

Ramseur 

Little  River 

W.  A.  Leach 

Martins  Mill 

Concord 

M.  N.  Morgan 

Farmer 

Mount  Gilead 

R.  M.  Bruton 

Wadeville 

J.  M.  Yates 

Mechanic 

J.  B.  Hurley,  Sr. 

Mount  Gilead 

Franklinville 

J.  T.  Winslow 

Asheboro 

H.  T.  Scarborough  Mount  Gilead 

Grant 

S.  S.  Cox 

Asheboro,  Star  Rt. 

J.  A.  Lisk 

Mount  Gilead 

C.  O.  Ingold 

Asheboro,  R.  1 

Ophir 

N.  S.  Hamilton 

I miner 

Level  Cross 

Pee  Dee 

Liberty 

W.  B.  Owen,  Sr. 

Liberty 

Rocky  Springs 

M.  A.  Bennett 

Jackson  Springs 

New  Hope 

G.  E.  Carter 

Eleazer 

Troy 

J.  T.  Thornbury 

Rachel 

68 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


RANDOLPH — Continued  STANLY — Continued 


Township 

Name 

Address 

Township 

Name 

Address 

New  Market 

J.  A.  Wall 

Sophia 

Endy 

D.  P.  McSwain 

Albemarle 

Pleasant  Grove 

J.  T.  Powers 

Bear  Creek,  R.  3 

Furr 

Providence 

Harris 

Randleman 

A.  N.  Bulla 

Randleman 

North  Albemarle 

N.  T.  Groce 

Worthville 

Ridenhour 

R.  L.  Lipe 

Richfield,  R.  1 

Richland 

C.  E.  Stuart 

Seagrove 

South  Albemarle 

J.  C.  Parker 

Albemarle 

Tabernacle 

Tyson 

J.  M.  Reap 

Albemarle,  R.  5 

Trinity 

Union 

S.  A.  Cox 

Pisgah» 

STOKES 

Beaver  Island 

ROCKINGHAM 

Big  Creek 

Joe  Francis 

Francisco 

Huntsville 

Danbury 

Leaksville 

J.  M.  Price 

Leaksville 

Meadow 

I.  G.  Ross 

Walnut  Cove 

L.  J.  Shelton 

Spray 

Peters  Creek 

Madison 

V.  H.  Idol 

Madison 

Quaker  Gap 

Mayo 

T.  B.  Lindsay 

Stoneville 

Sauratown 

T.  L.  Smith 

Stoneville 

Snow  Creek 

R.  T.  Stone 

Stoneville 

Yadkin 

D.  V.  Carroll 

Mizpah 

New  Bethel 

W.  G.  Sharpe 

Wentworth 

J.  H.  Covington 

Mizpah 

P.  H.  Simpson 

Summerfield,  R.  1 

Price 

UNION 

Reidsville 

John  Bennett 

Reidsville.  R.  1 

Robert,  P.  Mitchell  Reidsville 

Buford 

J.  C.  Long 

Monroe 

Ruffin 

W.  G.  Dix 

Ruffin 

Goose  Creek 

W.  G.  Long 

Unionville 

A.  W.  McManus 

Union ville,  R.  1 

M.  Stokes 

Ruffin 

T 1 

Simpsonville 

W.  K.  Gibbs 

Reidsville 

<y  ackson 
Lanes  Creek 

B.  F.  Parker 

Monroe 

Wentworth 

u.  h.  Jrurceii 
J.  W.  Moore 

Wentworth,  R.  1 
Reidsville 

Marshville 

T.  C.  Griffin 

Af  T Vlrtn, 

Marshville 

Williamsburg 

George  T.  Davis 

Reidsville 

Monroe 
New  Salem 

i>l.  Li.  -flOW 

M.  C.  Austin 

Monroe 

Marshville,  R.F.D. 

W.  S.  McKinney 

Mclver 

Sandy  Ridge 

Vance 

P.  C.  Stinson 

Monroe 

ROWAN 

Atwell 

J.  L.  Fleming 

China  Grove 

VANCE 

F.  D.  Patterson 

China  Grove 

Dabney 

China  Grove 

L.  A.  Carriber 

Landis 

Henderson 

C.  J.  Deal 

Landis 

Kittrell 

J.  P.  Allen 

Henderson 

G.  H.  Lipe 

China  Grove 

Middleburg 

Alfred  Plummer 

Middleburg 

Cleveland 

E.  B.  Davis 

Cleveland 

B.  S.  Porham 

Henderson,  R.  3 

A.  L.  Powlas 

Barber 

Nutbush 

C.  M.  White 

Manson 

D.  B.  Rosebrough  Cleveland 

Sandy  Creek 

E.  T.  Alston 

Henderson 

Franklin 

Townsville 

J.  E.  Kimball 

Clarksville,  Ya., 

Gold  Hill 

W atkins 

[R.F.D. 

Litaker 

Willi  amsboro 

R.  A.  Bullock 

Henderson,  R.  3 

Lock 

J.  H.  Rice 

Henderson,  R.  7 

Morgan 

C.  A.  Campbell 

Gold  Hill 

Mount  Vila 

Providence 

WAKE 

Salisbury 

A.  L.  Smoot 

Salisbury 

Bartons  Creek 

Scotch-Irish 

Jonathan  Lyerly 

Woodleaf,  R.  1 

Buckhorn 

Steel 

Cary 

Unity 

Cedar  Fork 

E.  M.  Ellis 

Morrisville 

J.  T.  Horton 

Morrisville 

Holly  Springs 

STANLY 

House  Creek 

Sion  H.  Smith 

Cary,  R.  1,  Box  59 

Almond 

R.  H.  Burleyson 

Albemarle 

Leesville 

M.  J.  Carlton 

Raleigh,  R.  6 

U.  S.  Burleyson 

Albemarle,  R.  6 

A.  G.  Ray 

Raleigh,  R.  7 

Big  Lick 

D.  E.  Efird 

Albemarle 

Little  River 

Center 

Marks  Creek 

Endy 

L.  H.  Bost 

Albemarle,  R.  6 

Middle  Creek 

Fokest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


69 


WAKE — Continued  WARREN — Continued 


Township 

Name 

Address 

Township 

Name 

Address 

Neuse  River 

J.  D.  Willson 

Neuse 

Smith  Creek 

J.  F.  P.  Horton 

Norlina 

J.  B.  WTiggins 

Neuse,  R.  1 

Swan  Quarter 

George  Robinson 

Ridgeway 

New  Light 

W.  D.  Sandling 

Wrake  Forest,  R.  4 

G.  E.  White 

Norlina 

Panther  Branch 

Miss  S.  M.  Adams 

WTllow  Springs 

Raleigh 

YADKIN 

St.  Marys 

Troy  Pool 

Auburn 

Boonville 

M.  M.  Crumel 

Boonville 

St.  Matthews 

A.  S.  Speer 

Boonville 

Swift  Creek 

Buck  Shoal 

E.  G.  Myers 

Hamptonville 

Wake  Forest 

F.  J.  Duke 

Wake  Forest 

G.  T.  White 

Hamptonville 

White  Oak 

W.  T.  Hunt 

Apex 

Deep  Creek 

S.  T.  Hinshaw 

Yadkinville 

J.  W.  McCoy 

Yadkinville 

WARREN 

East  Bend 

J.  G.  Hoff 

East  Bend 

Fishing  Creek 

J.  F.  Hunter 

Areola 

J.  T.  Watt 

East  Bend 

Fork 

W.  H.  Pridgen 

Creek 

W.  P.  Williams 

East  Bend 

Hawtree 

Fall  Creek 

C.  A.  Hall 

Siloam,  R.  2 

J udkins 

J.  R.  Hall 

Siloam 

Nutbush 

A.  E.  Paschall 

Manson 

E.  B.  Vestal 

Siloam 

R.  D.  Paschall 

Ridgeway 

E.  J.  Vestal 

Yadkinville 

River 

Forbush 

John  H.  Eaton 

Yadkinville 

Roanoke 

H.  L.  W'all 

Littleton,  R.  3 

J.  K.  Gough 

East  Bend 

Sandy  Creek 

S.  J.  Pritchard 

Henderson,  R.  6 

Knobs 

J.  G.  Groce 

Jones  ville 

Shocco 

Liberty 

J.  C.  Money 

Yadkinville 

Six-pound 

C.  F.  Burrow 

Macon,  R.  3 

Little  Yadkin 

COASTAL  PLAIN  REGION 

BEAUFORT 

BLADEN — Continued 

Bath 

W.  M.  Kear 

Washington 

White  Oak 

G.  H.  Elliott 

Washington 

Whites  Creek 

I.  A.  Register 

Council 

Chocowinity 

D.  J.  Priest 

Council,  R.  2 

Long  Acre 

G.  D.  Perry 

Council 

Pantego 

Richland 

J.  A.  Hardy 

Aurora 

BRUNSWICK 

Washington 

Lockwoods 

J.  J.  Hewett 

Supply 

Northwest 

BERTIE 

Shallotte 

Colerain 

D.  R.  Britten 

Colerain 

Smithville 

Indian  Woods 

E.  D.  Spruill 

Quitsna 

Town  Creek 

Merry  Hill 

T.  A.  Smithwich 

Merry  Hill 

Waccamaw 

Mitchell 

A.  E.  Gawlt 

Aulander 

Roxobel 

George  T.  Parker 

Kelford 

CAMDEN 

Snake  Bite 

J.  Rufus  Cherry 

Windsor 

Courthouse 

T.  B.  Godfrey 

Camden 

Whites 

Mrs.  B.  B.  Sawyer  Belcross 

Windsor 

Shiloh 

Woodville 

South  Mills 

BLADEN 

CARTERET 

Abbotts 

Beaufort 

Bethel 

H.  J.  Lyon 

Elizabethtown 

Carteret 

Bladenboro 

S.  N.  Ferguson 

Bladenboro 

Cedar  Island 

Brown  Marsh 

Harkers  Island 

W.  H.  Guthrie 

Harkers  Island 

Carvers  Creek 

J.  K.  Nicholson 

Council 

Harlowe 

Central 

R.  P.  Tatum 

Ruskin 

Hunting  Quarters 

Colly 

Merrimon 

Cypress  Creek 

Morehead 

Elizabethtown 

Newport 

A.  L.  Wilson 

Newport 

Frenchs  Creek 

Portsmouth 

Hollow 

C.  H.  Brisson 

St.  Pauls,  R.  4 

Straits 

Lake  Creek 

D.  J.  Sessoms 

Ivanhoe 

Smyrna 

Henry  0.  Piner 

W'illiston 

Turnbull 

White  Oak 

70 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


CHOWAN 

Township 

Name 

Address 

No.  1 

No.  2 

M.  B.  Chappel 

Edenton 

I.  J.  Moran 

Edenton 

No.  8 

W.  C.  Ward 

Ryland 

E.  C.  Welch 

Tyner 

No.  Ji- 

COLUMBUS 

Bogue 

J.  E.  Thompson 

Hallsboro 

J.  B.  Wyche 

Hallsboro 

Bolton 

M.  D.  Creech 

Bolton 

Bug  Hill 

J.  H.  Lay 

Pireway 

W.  A.  Marlow 

Dothan 

Major  Smith 

Bug  Hill 

Chadbourn 

G.  H.  Thompson 

Chadbourn,  R.  1 

Fair  Bluff 

Lees 

Hosea  Simmons 

Vineland 

N.  M.  Ward 

Nakina 

Ransom 

S.  M.  Newell 

Bolton 

W.  L.  Hobbs 

Delco 

South  Williams 

W.  C.  Gore 

Clarendon 

Tatoms 

Waccamaw 

Welch  Creek 

Whiteville 

B.  White 

Vineland 

CRAVEN 

No.  1 

No.  2 

No.  3 

J.  R.  Jolley 

Fort  Barnwell 

J.  S.  Robinson 

Cove  City 

No.  4 

No.  5 

James  L.  Taylor 

Bachelor 

John  S.  Morton 

North  Harlowe 

No.  6 

No.  7 

W.  E.  Moore 

New  Bern,  R.  5 

No.  8 

Pine  Lumber  Co. 

New  Bern 

No.  9 

CUMBERLAND 

Beaver  Dam 

Fred.  E.  Bullard 

Roseboro 

Black  River 

Nathan  Williams 

Godwrin 

D.  B.  Bain 

Wade 

Carvers  Creek 

Cedar  Creek 

Cross  Creek 

E.  A.  Poe 

Fayetteville 

Flea  Hill 

H.  H.  Bolton 

Fayetteville 

D.  D.  Bain 

Wade,  R.  1 

Grays 

Manchester 

Pearces  Mill 

Rockfish 

L.  M.  Culbreth 

Cumberland 

Seventy-first 

S.  M.  Hobbs 

Linden 

CURRITUCK 

Crawford 

W.  J.  Tate 

Coinj  ock 

A.  B.  Midgett 

Coin  jock 

Fruitville 

David  Jones 

Knotts  Island 

Moyock 

W.  M.  Stuart 

Vine,  Va. 

Poplar  Branch 

dare 

Township  Name  Address 


Atlantia 

East  Lake 

Claude  C.  Duvall 

Buffalo  City 

Hatteras 

N.  F.  Jennett 

Buxton 

Kennekeet 

B.  B.  Ballance 

Hatteras 

Nags  Head 

Theo.  S.  Meekins 

Manteo 

UPLIN 

M.  G.  Hollowed 

Nags  Head 

Albertson 
Cypress  Creek 

S.  W.  Peal 

Seven  Springs 

Faison 
Glisson 
Island  Creek 

Z.  V.  Blount 

Faison 

Kenansville 

Henry  Dail 

Kenansville 

Limestone 

Magnolia 

Rockfish 

Rose  Hill 

Smith 

Warsaw 

Wolfscrape 

EDGECOMBE 


No. 

1 

Mrs.  J.  C.  Powell 

Tarboro 

F.  H.  Pender 

Tarboro 

No. 

2 

No. 

3 

No. 

i 

No. 

0 

C.  H.  Spivey 

Tarboro,  R.  4 

No. 

6 

No. 

7 

S.  N.  Weeks 

Battleboro 

No. 

8 

W.  W.  Eagles 

Macclesfield 

No. 

9 

C.  W.  Owens 

Fountain 

D.  R.  Mercer 

Fountain 

H.  C.  Turnage 

Fountain 

No. 

10 

E.  L.  Pitt 

Pinetops 

Robert  E.  Pitt 

Pinetops 

No. 

11 

George  D.  Britt 

Tarboro 

No. 

12 

No. 

13 

No. 

U 

GATES 

Gatesville 

Hall 
Haslett 
Holly  Grove 

E.  H.  Eure 

Eure 

Hunters  Mill 

B.  H.  Ward 

Bosley 

J.  M.  Beaman 

Sunbury 

Mintonville 

T.  J.  Carter 

Hobbsville 

Reynoldson 

E.  S.  Ellenor 

Gates 

REENE 

Bull  Head 
Carrs 

J.  L.  Eason 

Stantonsburg 

Hookerton 

N.  F.  Palmer 

Hookerton 

J ason 

W.  D.  Mewborn 

LaGrange 

Olds 

Ormond 

Shine 

Speights  Bridge 

T.  E.  Marrow 

Farmville 

Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


71 


HALIFAX 

HYDE— Continued 

Township 

Name 

Address 

Township 

Name 

Address 

Brinkleyville 

Swan  Quarter 

F.  Collin  Barber 

Lake  Landing 

Butterwood 

Conocanary 

W.  E.  Nicholson 

Airlie 

JOHNSTON 

J.  W.  Jarvis 

Swan  Quarter 

Enfield 

S.  B.  Holloway 

Enfield 

Banner 

John  W.  Wood 

Benson,  R.  2 

Faucett 

A.  L.  Stephenson 

Benson 

Halifax 

W.  D.  Boon 

Littleton 

C.  D.  House 

Thelma 

Bentonsville 

J.  M.  Beasley 

Bentonville 

Palmyra 

R.  H.  White 

Hobgood 

Beulah 

W.  G.  Pittman 

Kenly 

Roanoke  Rapids 

Boon  Hill 

Roseneath 

Clayton 

Scotland  Neck 

J.  E.  Shields 

Scotland  Neck 

Cleveland 

Weldon 

Elevation 

Ingrams 

J.  W.  Sanders 

Four  Oaks 

HARNETT 

B.  B.  Adams 

Four  Oaks 

Anderson  Creek 

J.  S.  Johnson 

Spout  Springs 

Meadow 

J.  J.  Rose 

Bentonville 

Averasboro 

J.  W.  Whitehead 

Dunn 

Micro 

V.  L.  Stephens 

Dunn 

O'Neals 

P.  B.  Chamblee 

Zebulon 

Barbecue 

W.  E.  Parker 

Middlesex,  R.  3 

Black  River 

Pine  Level 

H.  R.  Gerald 

Pine  Level 

Buckhorn 

J.  D.  Champion 

Fuquay  Spgs.,  R.  1 

N.  G.  Wiggs 

Princeton 

W.  A.  A vent 

Kipling 

Pleasant  Grove 

Duke 

H.  V.  Moulton 

Duke 

. Selma 

Grove 

L.  L.  Levinson 

Coats 

Smithfield 

William  D.  Avera 

Smithfield 

Hectors  Creek 

A.  L.  Baughcom 

Fuquay  Springs 

Wilders 

J.  I.  Whitley 

Wendell,  R.  1 

H.  S.  Holloway 

Cardenas 

Wilson  Mills 

J ohnsonville 

D.  P.  McDonald 

Olivia 

JONES 

C.  C.  Cameron 

Pineview 

Lillington 

Beaver  Creek 

H.  L.  Wooten 

Kinston,  R.  6 

Neills  Creek 

Chinquapin 

Stewarts  Creek 

Cypress  Creek 

C.  A.  Rhodes 

Comfort 

Upper LittleRiver  J.  B.  F.  Stewart 

Mamers 

Pollocksville 

F.  H.  Foy 

Pollocksville 

Trenton 

T.  A.  Windley 

Trenton 

Tuckahoe 

D.  W.  Dudley 

Comfort 

HERTFORD 

White  Oak 

Ahoskie 

Harrellsville 

LENOIR 

Maneys  Neck 

S.  P.  Winborne 

Como 

Contentnea  Neck 

W.  P.  Gilbert 

Grift  on 

Murfreesboro 
St.  Johns 

Clarence  Chavis 

Ahoskie 

Falling  Creek 

J.  S.  Abbott 

Kinston 

J.  J.  Askew 

Ahoskie 

Institute 

W inton 

HOKE 

Allendale 

Antioch 

H.  H.  Jones 

Winton 

Kinston 
Moseley  Hall 
Neuse 
Pink  Hill 
Sand  Hill 
Southwest 

Samuel  T.  Meares 

LaGrange 

Blue  Springs 
Little  River 
McLauchlin 

J.  H.  Priest 

Manley 

Trent 

Vance 

Quewhifde 

Woodington 

Raeford 

MARTIN 

Stonewall 

HYDE 

L.  S.  Mclnnis 

Dundarrach 

Beargrass 
Cross  Roads 

McG.  Taylor 

Williamston 

Goose  Neck 

J.  W.  Hines 

Oak  City 

Currituck 

Geo.  T.  Radcliff 

Leechville 

Griffins 

T.  A.  Griffin 

Scranton 

Hamilton 

Fairfield 

J amesville 

Lake  Landing 

George  E.  Roper 

Engelhard 

Poplar  Point 

Jesse  A.  Leggett 

Williamston,  R.  3 

W.  W.  Watson 

Lake  Landing 

James  R.  Everett 

Williamston 

J.  M.  Hall 

Middletown 

Robersonville 

Ocracoke 

Williams 

J.  L.  Coltrain 

Williamston 

Swan  Quarter 

I.  R.  Credle 

Swan  Quarter 

Williamston 

72 


Forest  Fires  in  USTorth  Carolina 


NASH 


PENDER 


Township 

Name 

Address 

Township 

Name 

Address 

Bailey 

Burg  aw 

A.  H.  Paddison 

Burgaw 

Castalia 

Caintuck 

E.  A.  Howes 

Atkinson 

Coopers 

D.  J.  Corbett 

Currie 

Dry  Wells 

Caswell 

Ferrells 

W.  B.  Bergeron 

Middlesex 

Columbia 

A.  D.  Ward 

Currie 

Griffins 

Hollister  Lbr.  Co. 

Hollister 

George  F.  DeVane  Ivanhoe 

A.  W.  Cooper 

Whitakers 

Grady 

Jackson 

Holly 

J.  A.  Dainer,  Jr. 

Maple  Hill 

Mannings 

Long  Creek 

Nashville 

Rocky  Point 

W.  W.  Pearsall 

Rocky  Point 

North  Whitakers 

Topsail 

J.  Horner 

Scotts  Hill 

Oak  Level 

J.  C.  Nixon 

Topsail 

Red  Oak 

Union 

Rocky  Mount 

South  Whitakers 

PERQUIMANS 

Stony  Creek 

J.  W.  Culpepper 

Rocky  Mount 

Belvidere 

Bethel 

NEW  HANOVER 

Hertford 

Cape  Fear 

New  Hope 

Arthur  Butt 

Hertford 

Federal  Point 

Parkville 

T.  C.  Stony 

Winfall 

Harnett 

M asonboro 

PITT 

Wilmington 

Ay  den 

J.  R.  Smith 

Ay  den 

J.  R.  Henry 

Grifton 

NORTHAMPTON 

Beaver  Dam 

Gaston 

Bethel 

R.  D.  Whitehurst 

Bethel 

J ackson 

John  E.  Moore 

Jackson 

Belvoir 

J.  S.  Grant 

Jackson 

Carolina 

Kirby 

W.  T.  Bridgers 

Conway 

Chicod 

J.  J.  Elk 

Grimesland 

Occoneechee 

Falkland 

Pleasant  Hill 

J.  W.  Magee 

Pleasant  Hill 

Farmville 

John  T.  Thorne 

Farmville 

G.  W.  Massey 

Pleasant  Hill 

J.  R.  Davis 

Farmville 

Rich  Square 

A.  J.  Conner 

Rich  Square 

Fountain 

Roanoke 

D.  T.  Hicks 

Lasker 

Greenville 

J.  J.  Harrington 

Greenville 

Seaboard 

Pactolus 

Wiccacanee 

J.  G.  Bottoms 

Margarettsville 

Swift  Creek 

Winterville 

J.  J.  May 

Greenville 

ONSLOW 

A.  G.  Cox 

Winterville 

Jacksonville 

Edw.  J.  Scott 

Jacksonville 

Richlands 

J.  W.  Fountain 

Richlands 

RICHMOND 

Stump  Sound 

J.  T.  Shepard 

Holly  Ridge 

Beaverdam 

G.  C.  Baldwin 

Hoffman 

Swansboro 

D.  J.  Sanders 

Hubert 

Black  Jack 

J.  F.  Capel 

Ellerbe,  R.  2 

White  Oak 

A.  A.  Eubank 

Marks  Creek 

W.  H.  H.  Bagwell 

Hamlet 

M.  B.  Nicholson 

Osborne 

PAMLICO 

Mineral  Springs 

J.  R.  Wall 

Ellerbe 

No.  1 

Rockingham 

J.  A.  Hutchinson 

Roberdel 

No.  2 

J.  W.  Martin 

Florence 

Steeles 

A.  Baldwin 

Ellerbe,  R.  1 

No.  3 

A.  J.  Little 

Mangum 

No.  4 

Wolf  Pit 

W.  H.  Roberts 

Rockingham 

No.  5 

ROBESON 

PASQUOTANK 

Alfordsville 

Elizabeth  City 

T.  B.  Wilson 

Elizabeth  City 

Back  Swamp 

Mount  Hermon 

J.  W.  Perry 

Okisko 

Britts 

Newland 

W.  J.  Williams 

Elizabeth  City,  R.6 

Burnt  Swamp 

Nixonton 

C.  L.  Ball 

Elizabeth  City,  R.  1 

Fairmont 

J.  L.  Brock 

Elizabeth  City,  R.  2 

Gaddy 

Providence 

W.  S.  Stafford 

Elizabeth  City,  R.  3 

Howellsville 

M.  P.  Jennings 

Elizabeth  City 

Lumber  Bridge 

Salem 

J.  C.  James,  Jr. 

Weeksville 

Lumberton 

Forest  Feres  in  jSTorth  Caeolina 


73 


ROBESON — Continued 


SCOTLAND — Continued 


Township 

Name 

Address 

Township 

Name 

Marietta 

Stewaxtsville 

S.  W.  Covington 

Maxton 

Rory  McNair 

Maxton 

Williamson 

H.  D.  Gibson 

Orrum 

R.  W.  Nye 

Orrum 

F.  L.  Rachels 

M.  W.  Hedgpeth 

Orrum 

Parkton 

TYRRELL 

Pembroke 

Alligator 

Raft  Swamp 

R.  F.  Gregory 

Lumberton 

Columbia 

E.  B.  Hopkins 

W.  C.  Townsend 

Lumberton 

Gum  Neck 

W.  K.  Culbreth 

Lumberton 

Scuppemong 

E.  R.  Davenport 

L.  E.  Tyner 

Buies 

South  Fork 

Red  Springs 

A.  D.  McLeod 

Red  Springs 

J.  L.  McMillan 

Red  Springs 

WASHINGTON 

Rennert 

C.  W.  Watson 

Rennert 

Lees  Mill 

N.  C.  Vail 
J.  E.  Singleton 

Rowland 

A.  T.  McKellor 

Rowland 

Saddletree 

St  Pauls 
Shannon 

E.  B.  Paul 
John  H.  Powers 
J.  F.  Hamilton 

Lumberton 
Lumberton,  R.F.D. 
St.  Pauls 

Plymouth 

Scuppemong 

Skinnersville 

C.  L.  Everett 

Smiths 

Sterlings 

WAYNE 

Thompson 

W.  L.  Price 

McDonald 

Brogden 

W.  N.  Anderson 

Foster  Williams 

McDonald 

W.  F.  English 

Wishart 

Buck  Swamp 
Fork 

W.  C.  Hollowell 

SAMPSON 

Goldsboro 

D.  C.  Pipkin 

Dismal 

Grantham 

Franklin 

B.  C.  Triplett 

Kerr 

Great  Swamp 

B.  R.  Edgerton 

Halls 

J.  A.  Fort 

Clinton 

Indian  Springs 

Herrings 

Nahunta 

S.  H.  Ay  cock 

Honeycutts 

New  Hope 

Lisbon 

J.  D.  Johnson 

Garland 

Pikeville 

P.  B.  Scott 

C.  A.  Brown  & Bro.  Garland 

K.  D.  Perkins 

Little  Coharie 

Saulston 

McDaniels 

Stony  Creek 

Mingo 

Newton  Grove 
North  Clinton 
Piney  Grove 
South  Clinton 
Taylors  Bridge 
T urkey 
Westbrooks 

SCOTLAND 

Laurel  Hill 
Spring  Hill 


Westbrook  Lee,  Sr.  Newton  Grove 


J.  A.  Jackson  Laurinburg 
Neill  A.  McKay  Wagram 


WILSON 

Black  Creek 

Cross  Roads 

Gardner 

Old  Fields 

Saratoga 

Spring  Hill 

Stantonsburg 

Taylor 

Toisnot 

Wilson 


L.  P.  Woodard 


J.  W.  Bailey 
H.  E.  Thompson 


H.  B.  Lane 


Address 
Laurinburg 
Gibson 
Old  Hundred 


Columbia 

Columbia 


Plymouth 

Roper 


Mackeys 


Dudley 
Mount  Olive 

Goldsboro 

Goldsboro 

Kenly,  R.  1 

Fremont 

Pikeville 

Pikeville 


Wilson 


Kenly 

Stantonsburg 


Wilson,  R.  4 


PUBLICATIONS 

OF  THE 

NORTH  CAROLINA  GEOLOGICAL  AND  ECONOMIC  SURVEY 


BULLETINS 

1.  Iron  Ores  of  North  Carolina,  by  Henry  B.  C.  Nitze,  1893.  8°,  239  pp., 

20  pi.,  and  map.  Out  of  print. 

2.  Building  and  Ornamental  Stones  in  North  Carolina,  by  T.  L.  Watson  and 
F.  B.  Laney  in  collaboration  with  George  P.  Merrill,  1906,  8°,  283  pp.,  32  pi., 
2 figs.  Postage  25  cents.  Clotli-bound  copy  50  cents  extra. 

3.  Gold  Deposits  in  North  Carolina,  by  Henry  B.  C.  Nitze  and  George  B. 
Hanna,  1896.  8°,  196  pp.,  14  pi.,  and  map.  Out  of  print. 

4.  Road  material  and  Road  Construction  in  North  Carolina,  by  J.  A.  Holmes 
and  William  Cain,  1893.  8°,  88  pp.  Out  of  print. 

5.  The  Forests,  Forest  Lands,  and  Forest  Products  of  Eastern  North  Caro- 
lina, by  W.  W.  Ashe,  1894.  8°,  12S  pp.,  5 pi.  Out  of  print. 

6.  The  Timber  Trees  of  North  Carolina,  by  Gifford  Pinchot  and  W.  W.  Ashe, 

1897.  8°,  227  pp.,  22  pi.  Out  of  print. 

7.  Forest  Fires:  Their  Destructive  Work,  Causes  and  Prevention,  by  W.  W. 

Ashe,  1895.  8°,  66  pp.,  1 pi.  Out  of  print. 

8.  Water  powers  in  North  Carolina,  by  George  F.  Swain,  Joseph  A.  Holmes, 

and  E.  W.  Myers,  1899.  8°,  362  pp.,  16  pi.  Out  of  print. 

9.  Monazite  and  Monazite  Deposits  in  North  Carolina,  by  Henry  B.  C.  Nitze, 

1895.  8°,  47  pp.,  5 pi.  Out  of  print. 

10.  Gold  Mining  in  North  Carolina  and  other  Appalachian  States,  by  Henry 

B.  C.  Nitze  and  A.  J.  Wilkins,  1897.  8°,  164  pp.,  10  pi.  Out  of  print. 

11.  Corundum  and  the  Basic  Magnesian  Rocks  of  Western  North  Carolina, 

by  J.  Volney  Lewis,  1895.  8°,  107  pp.,  6 pi.  Out  of  print. 

12.  History  of  the  Gems  Found  in  North  Carolina,  by  George  Frederick  Kunz, 

1907.  8°,  60  pp.,  15  pi.  Out  of  print. 

13.  Clay  Deposits  and  Clay  Industries  in  North  Carolina,  by  Heinrich  Ries, 
1897.  8°,  157  pp.,  12  pi.  Out  of  print. 

14.  The  Cultivation  of  the  Diamond-back  Terrapin,  by  R.  E.  Coker,  1906. 
8°,  67  pp.,  23  pi.,  2 figs.  Out  of  print. 

15  Experiments  in  Oyster  Culture  in  Pamlico  Sound,  North  Carolina,  by 
Robert  E.  Coker,  1907.  8°,  74  pp.,  17  pi.,  11  figs.  Postage  10  cents. 

16.  Shade  Trees  for  North  Carolina,  by  W.  W.  Ashe,  1908.  8°,  74  pp.,  10  pi., 
16  figs.  Out  of  print. 

17.  Terracing  of  Farm  Lands,  by  W.  W.  Ashe,  1908.  8°,  38  pp.,  6 pi.,  2 figs. 
Postage  If  cents. 

18.  Bibliography  of  North  Carolina  Geology,  Mineralogy,  and  Geography, 
with  a list  of  Maps,  by  Francis  Baker  Laney  and  Katherine  Hill  Wood,  1909. 
8°,  428  pp.  Postage  25  cents.  Cloth-hound  copy,  $1.00. 

19.  The  Tin  Deposits  of  the  Carolinas,  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt  and  Douglas 

B.  Sterrett,  1905.  8°,  64  pp.,  8 figs.  Postage  lf  cents. 

20.  Waterpowers  of  North  Carolina:  An  Appendix  to  Bulletin  8,  1910. 

8°,  383  pp.  Postage  25  cents. 

21.  The  Gold  Hill  Mining  District  of  North  Carolina,  by  Francis  Baker 

Laney,  1910.  8°,  137  pp.,  23  pi.,  5 figs.  Postage  15  cents.  Cloth  copies  75 

cents. 


76 


Forest  Fires  iist  North  Carolina 


22.  A Report  on  the  Cid  Mining  District,  Davidson  County,  N.  C.,  by  J.  E. 

Pogue,  Jr.,  1911.  8°,  144  pp.,  22  pi.,  5 figs.  Postage  15  cents.  Cloth  copies 

75  cents. 

23.  Forest  Conditions  in  Western  North  Carolina,  by  J.  S.  Holmes,  1911.  8°, 

116  pp.,  8 pi.  Postage  15  cents. 

24.  Loblolly  or  North  Carolina  Pine,  by  W.  W.  Ashe,  Forest  Inspector,  U.  S. 

Forest  Service  (and  former  Forester  of  the  North  Carolina  Geological  and 
Economic  Survey).  Prepared  in  Cooperation  with  the  Forest  Service,  U.  S. 
Department  of  Agriculture,  1914.  8°,  176  pp.,  27  pi.,  5 figs.  Postage  15  cents. 

Cloth  copies  75  cents. 

25.  Zircon,  Monazite,  and  Other  Minerals  used  in  the  Production  of  Chemi- 
cal Compounds  Employed  in  the  Manufacture  of  Lighting  Apparatus,  by 
Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  Ph.D.,  1916.  8°,  120  pp.,  3 pi.  Postage  15  cents.  Cloth 
copies  75  cents. 

26.  A Report  on  the  Virgilina  Copper  District  of  North  Carolina  and  Vir- 
ginia, by  F.  B.  Laney,  Ph.D.,  1917.  8°,  176  pp.,  20  pi.,  16  figs. 

27.  The  Altitudes  of  North  Carolina,  1917.  8°,  124  pp.  Postage  20  cents. 

28.  Limestones  and  Marls  of  North  Carolina,  by  G.  F.  Loughlin,  E.  W.  Berry, 
and  J.  A.  Cushman.  Prepared  by  the  United  State  Geological  Survey  in  co- 
operation with  the  North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey,  1921.  8°, 
211  pp.,  7 pi.,  3 figs.  Postage  15  cents. 

Gives  a complete  description  of  the  various  deposits  of  limestones  and  marls  in  North 
Carolina  ; the  history  of  their  production  and  use ; describes  plants  now  operating  in  the  State, 
and  discusses  the  possible  future  of  limestones  and  marls  as  a fertilizer  for  North  Carolina. 


ECONOMIC  PAPERS 

1.  The  Maple  Sugar  Industry  in  Western  North  Carolina,  by  W.  W.  Ashe, 
1897.  8°,  34  pp.  Postage  2 cents. 

2.  Recent  Road  Legislation  in  North  Carolina,  by  J.  A.  Holmes.  Out  of 
print. 

3.  Talc  and  Pyrophyllite  Deposits  in  North  Carolina,  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt, 
1900.  8°,  29  pp.,  2 maps.  Postage  2 cents. 

4.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina,  during  1900,  by  Joseph  Hyde 

Pratt,  1901.  8°,  36  pp.,  and  map.  Out  of  print. 

Takes  up  in  some  detail  Occurrences  of  Gold,  Silver,  Lead  and  Zinc,  Copper,  Iron,  Mangan- 
ese, Corundum,  Granite,  Mica,  Talc,  Pyrophyllite,  Graphite,  Kaolin,  Gem  Minerals,  Monazite, 
Tungsten,  Building  Stones,  and  Coal  in  North  Carolina. 

5.  Road  Laws  of  North  Carolina,  by  J.  A.  Holmes.  Out  of  print . 

6.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1901,  by  Joseph  Hyde 

Pratt,  1902.  8°,  102  pp.  Out  of  print. 

Gives  a list  of  Minerals  found  in  North  Carolina  ; describes  the  Treatment  of  Sulphuret  Gold 
Ores,  giving  localities  ; takes  up  the  Occurrence  of  Copper  in  the  Virgilina,  Gold  Hill,  and  Ore 
Knob  districts  ; gives  Occurrence  and  Uses  of  Corundum  ; a List  of  Garnets  describing  Local- 
ities ; the  Occurrence,  Associated  Minerals,  Uses  and  Localities  of  Mica  ; the  Occurrence  of 
North  Carolina  Feldspar,  with  Analyses  ; an  extended  description  of  North  Carolina  Gems  and 
Gem  Minerals  ; Occurrences  of  Monazite,  Barytes,  Ocher ; describes  and  gives  Occurrences  of 
Graphite  and  Coal ; describes  and  gives  Occurrences  of  Building  Stones,  including  Limestone ; 
describes  and  gives  Uses  for  the  various  forms  of  clay,  and  under  the  head  of  “Other  Eco- 
nomic Minerals,”  describes  and  gives  Occurrences  of  Chromite,  Asbestos,  and  Zircon. 

7.  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1902,  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt, 

1903.  8°,  27  pp.  Out  of  print. 

8.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1903,  by  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  1904.  8°,  74  pp.  Out  of  print. 

Gives  description  of  Mines  worked  for  Gold  in  1903  ; description  of  Properties  worked  for 
Copper  during  1903,  together  with  assay  of  ore  from  Twin-Edwards  Mine;  analyses  of  Limon- 
ite  ore  from  Wilson  Mine,  the  Occurrence  of  Tin  ; in  some  detail  the  Occurrences  of  Abrasives. 
Occurrences  of  Monazite  and  Zircon  ; Occurrences  and  Varieties  of  Graphite,  giving  Methods  of 
Cleaning ; Occurrences  of  Marble  and  other  forms  of  Limestone ; Analyses  of  Kaolin  from 
Barber  Creek,  Jackson  County,  North  Carolina. 


Forest  Fires  in  FTorth  Carolina 


77 


9.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1904,  by  Joseph  Hyde 

Pratt,  1905.  8°,  95  pp.  Postage  4 cents. 

Gives  Mines  Producing  Gold  and  Silver  during  1903  and  1904,  and  Sources  of  the  Gold 
Produced  during  1904  ; describes  the  mineral  Chromite,  giving  Analyses  of  Selected  Samples 
of  Chromite  from  Mines  in  Yancey  County;  describes  Commercial  Varieties  of  Mica,  giving  the 
manner  in  which  it  occurs  in  North  Carolina,  Percentage  of  Mica  in  the  Dikes,  Methods  of 
Mining,  Associated  Minerals,  Localities  ; Uses  ; describes  the  mineral  Barytes,  giving  Method  of 
Cleaning  and  Preparing  Barytes  for  Market,  describes  the  use  of  Monazite  as  used  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Preparation  of  the  Bunsen  Burner,  and  goes  into  the  use  of  Zircon  in  connection 
with  the  Nernst  Lamp,  giving  a List  of  the  Principal  Yttrium  Minerals  ; describes  the  minerals 
containing  Corundum  Gems,  Hiddenite  and  Other  Gem  Minerals,  and  gives  New  Occurrences 
of  these  Gems  ; describes  the  mineral  Graphite  and  gives  new  Uses  for  same. 

10.  Oyster  Culture  in  North  Carolina,  by  Robert  E.  Coker,  1905.  8°,  39  pp. 

Out  of  print. 

11.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1905,  by  Joseph  Hyde 

Pratt,  1906.  8°,  95  pp.  Out  of  print. 

Describes  the  mineral  Cobalt  and  the  principal  minerals  that  contain  Cobalt ; Corundum 
Localities ; Monazite  and  Zircon  in  considerable  detail,  giving  Analyses  of  Thorianite ; 
describes  Tantalum  Minerals  and  gives  description  of  the  Tantalum  Lamp ; gives  brief 
description  of  Peat  Deposits  ; the  manufacture  of  Sand-lime  Brick  ; Operations  of  Concentrat- 
ing Plant  in  Black  Sand  Investigations  ; gives  Laws  Relating  to  Mines,  Coal  Mines,  Mining, 
Mineral  Interests  in  Land,  Phosphate  Rock,  Marl  Beds. 

12.  Investigations  Relative  to  the  Shad  Fisheries  of  North  Carolina,  by  John 

N.  Cobb,  1906.  8°,  74  pp.,  8 maps.  Postage  6 cents. 

13.  Report  of  Committee  on  Fisheries  in  North  Carolina.  Compiled  by  Joseph 
Hyde  Pratt,  1906.  8°,  78  pp.  Out  of  print. 

14.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1906,  by  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  1907.  8°,  144  pp.,  20  pi.,  and  5 figs.  Postage  10  cents. 

Under  the  head  of  “Recent  Changes  in  Gold  Mining  in  North  Carolina,”  gives  methods  of 
mining,  describing  Log  Washers,  Square  Sets,  Cyanide  Plants,  etc.,  and  detailed  descriptions 
of  Gold  Deposits  and  Mines  are  given  ; Copper  Deposits  of  Swain  County  are  described ; Mica 
Deposits  of  Western  North  Carolina  are  described,  giving  Distribution  and  General  Character, 
General  Geology,  Occurrence,  Associated  Minerals,  Mining  and  treatment  of  mica,  origin, 
together  with  a description  of  many  of  the  mines  ; Monazite  is  taken  up  in  considerable  detail 
as  to  Location  and  Occurrence,  Geology,  including  classes  of  Rocks,  Age,  Associations,  Weath- 
ering, method  of  Mining  and  Cleaning,  description  of  Monazite  in  Original  Matrix. 

15.  Tlie  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1907,  by  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  1908.  8°,  176  pp.,  13  pi.,  and  4 figs.  Postage  15  cents. 

Takes  up  in  detail  Copper  and  the  Gold  Hill  Copper  District,  a description  of  the  Uses  of 
Monazite  and  its  Associated  Minerals  ; descriptions  of  Ruby,  Emerald,  Beryl,  Hiddenite,  and 
Amethyst  Localities  ; a detailed  description  with  Analyses  of  the  Principal  Mineral  Springs  of 
North  Carolina;  a description  of  the  Peat  Formations  in  North  Carolina,  together  with  a 
detailed  account  of  the  uses  of  Peat  and  the  Results  of  an  Experiment  Conducted  by  the 
United  States  Geological  Survey  on  Peat  from  Elizabeth  City,  North  Carolina. 

16.  Report  of  Convention  called  by  Governor  R.  B.  Glenn  to  Investigate  the 
Fishing  Industries  in  North  Carolina,  compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State 
Geologist,  1908.  8°,  45  pp.  Out  of  print. 

17.  Proceedings  of  Drainage  Convention  held  at  New  Bern,  North  Carolina, 

September  9,  1908.  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  1908.  8°,  94  pp.  Out 

of  print. 

18.  Proceedings  of  Second  Annual  Drainage  Convention  held  at  New  Bern, 
North  Carolina,  November  11  and  12,  1909,  compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt, 
and  containing  North  Carolina  Drainage  Law,  1909.  8°,  50  pp.  Out  of  print. 

19.  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  1909,  by  J.  S.  Holmes,  Forester, 
1910.  8°,  52  pp.,  9 pi.  Out  of  print. 

20.  Wood-using  Industries  of  North  Carolina,  by  Roger  E.  Simmons,  under 
the  direction  of  J.  S.  Holmes  and  H.  S.  Sackett,  1910.  8°,  74  pp.,  6 pi.  Out 
of  print. 

21.  Proceedings  of  the  Third  Annual  Drainage  Convention,  held  under 
Auspices  of  the  North  Carolina  Drainage  Association;  and  the  North  Carolina 
Drainage  Law  (codified).  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  1911.  8°,  67  pp., 
3 pi.  Out  of  print. 


78 


Forest  Fires  in  ISTorth  Carolina 


22.  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  1910,  by  J.  S.  Holmes,  Forester, 

1911.  8°,  48  pp.  Out  of  print. 

23.  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1908,  ’09,  and  ’10,  by  Joseph 

Hyde  Pratt  and  Miss  H.  M.  Berry,  1911.  8°,  134  pp.,  1 pi.,  27  figs.  Postage 

10  cents.  Cloth  copies  50  cents  extra. 

Gives  report  on  Virgilina  Copper  District  of  North  Carolina  and  Virginia,  by  F.  B.  Laney ; 
Detailed  report  on  Mica  deposits  of  North  Carolina,  by  Donglas  B.  Sterrett ; Detailed  report 
on  Monazite,  by  Douglass  B.  Sterrett;  Reports  on  various  Gem  Minerals,  by  Douglas  B.  Ster- 
rett ; Information  and  Analyses  concerning  certain  Mineral  Springs ; Extract  from  Chance 
Report  of  the  Dan  River  and  Deep  River  Coal  Fields  ; some  notes  on  the  Peat  Industry,  by 
Professor  Charles  A.  Davis  ; Extract  from  report  of  Arthur  Keith  on  the  Nantahala  Marble  ; 
Description  of  the  manufacture  of  Sand-lime  Brick. 

24.  Fishing  Industry  of  North  Carolina,  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  1911.  8°, 
44  pp.  Out  of  print. 

25.  Proceedings  of  Second  Annual  Convention  of  the  North  Carolina  Forestry 
Association,  held  at  Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  February  21,  1912.  Forest  Fires 
in  North  Carolina  During  1911.  Suggested  Forestry  Legislation.  Compiled 
by  J.  S.  Holmes,  Forester,  1912.  8°,  71  pp.  Postage  5 cents. 

26.  Proceedings  of  Fourth  Annual  Drainage  Convention,  held  at  Elizabeth 
City,  North  Carolina,  November  15  and  16,  1911,  compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  State  Geologist,  1912.  8°,  45  pp.  Out  of  print. 

27.  Highway  Work  in  North  Carolina,  containing  a Statistical  Report  of 
Road  Work  during  1911,  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  and  Miss  H.  M. 
Berry,  Secretary,  1912.  8°,  145  pp.,  11  figs.  Out  of  print. 

28.  Culverts  and  Small  Bridges  for  Country  Roads  in  North  Carolina,  by 
C.  R.  Thomas  and  T.  F.  Hickerson,  1912.  8°,  56  pp.,  14  figs.,  20  pi.  Postage 
10  cents. 

29.  Report  of  the  Fisheries  Convention  held  at  New  Bern,  N.  C.,  December 

13,  1911,  compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  together  with  a 
Compendium  of  the  Stenographic  Notes  of  the  Meetings  Held  on  the  two  trips 
taken  by  the  Legislative  Fish  Committee  Appointed  by  the  General  Assembly 
of  1909,  and  the  Legislation  Recommended  by  this  Committee,  1912.  8°,  302 

pp.  Postage  15  cents. 

30.  Proceedings  of  the  Annual  Convention  of  the  North  Carolina  Good  Roads 
Association  held  at  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  August  1 and  2,  1912,  in  Cooperation  with 
the  North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey.  Compiled  by  Joseph 
Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  and  Miss  H.  M.  Berry,  Secretary,  1912.  S°, 
109  pp.  Postage  10  cents. 

31.  Proceedings  of  fifth  Annual  Drainage  Convention  held  at  Raleigh,  N.  C., 
November  26  and  27,  1912.  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist. 
8°,  56  pp.,  6 pi.  Postage  5 cents. 

32.  Public  Roads  are  Public  Necessities,  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geolo- 
gist, 1913.  8°,  62  pp.  Postage  5 cents. 

33.  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  during  1912  and  National  and  Association 

Cooperative  Fire  Control,  by  J.  S.  Holmes,  Forester,  1913.  8°,  63  pp.  Postage 

5 cents. 

34.  Mining  industry  in  North  Carolina  during  1911-12,  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt, 

State  Geologist,  1914.  8°,  314  pp.,  23  pi.,  12  figs.  Postage  15  cents. 

Gives  detailed  report  on  Gold  Mining  in  various  counties  with  special  repoi-t  on  Metal- 
lurgical processes  used  at  the  Iola  Mine,  by  Claud  Hafer ; description  of  a Cyanide  Mill  by 
Percy  Barbour  ; the  new  milling  process  for  treating  North  Carolina  Siliceous  Gold  Ores  at 
the  Montgomery  Mine,  including  a description  of  the  Uwarrie  Mining  Company" s Plant ; notes 
on  the  Carter  Mine,  Montgomery  County,  by  Claud  Hafer  ; also  a description  of  the  Howie 
Mine  and  its  mill;  a detailed  report  of  the  Coggins  (Appalachian)  Gold  Mine,  by  Joseph 
Hyde  Pratt ; a list  of  gems  and  gem  minerals  occurring  in  the  United  States  ; special  descrip- 
tions of  Localities  where  the  Amethyst,  Beryl,  Emerald,  and  Quartz  Gems  Occur,  as  taken  from 
United  States  Geological  Survey  Report  by  Douglas  B.  Sterrett ; a report  on  the  Dan  River 
Coal  Field,  by  R.  W.  Stone,  as  reprinted  from  Bulletin  471-B  of  the  United  States  Geological 
Survey,  a special  report  on  Graphite,  by  Edson  S.  Bastin  and  reprinted  from  Mineral 
Resources  of  United  States  for  1912  ; a special  report  on  Asbestos  describing  both  the  Amphi- 


Forest  Fires  iist  FTorth  Carolina 


79 


bole  and  Chrysotile  varieties  ; a report  on  the  Mount  Airy  Granite  Quarry ; special  report  on 
Sand  and  Gravel,  giving  Uses,  Definitions  of  Various  Sands,  etc.,  the  portion  of  a Bulletin  on 
Feldspar  and  Kaolin  of  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Mines,  which  relates  to  North  Carolina, 
and  which  takes  up  in  detail  Occurrences,  Methods  of  Mining,  and  Descriptions  of  Localities 
of  Feldspar  and  Kaolin  mines  in  North  Carolina,  prepared  by  Mr.  A.  S.  Watts.  In  this 
Economic  Paper  are  also  given  the  names  and  addresses  of  producers  of  the  various  minerals 
during  the  years  covered  by  the  report. 

35.  Good  Road  Days,  November  5th  and  6th,  1913,  compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  State  Geologist,  and  Miss  H.  M.  Berry,  Secretary.  8°,  102  pp.,  11  pi. 
Postage  10  cents. 

36.  Proceedings  of  the  North  Carolina  Good  Roads  Association,  held  at  More- 
head  City,  N.  C.,  July  31st  and  August  1,  1913.  In  Cooperation  with  the  North 
Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey. — Statistical  Report  of  Highway 
Work  in  North  Carolina  during  1912.  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State 
Geologist,  and  Miss  H.  M.  Berry,  Secretary.  8°,  127  pp.,  7 figs.  Postage  10 
cents. 

37.  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  during  1913  and  a Summary  of  State 
Forest  Fire  Prevention  in  the  United  States,  by  J.  S.  Holmes,  Forester,  1914. 
8°,  82  pp.  Postage  8 cents. 

38.  Forms  covering  the  Organization  of  Drainage  Districts  under  the  North 
Carolina  Drainage  Law,  Chapter  442,  Public  Laws  of  1909,  and  Amendments. 
And  Forms  for  Minutes  of  Boards  of  Drainage  Commissioners  covering  the 
Organization  of  the  Board  up  to  and  Including  the  Issuing  of  the  Drainage 
Bonds.  Compiled  by  Geo.  R.  Boyd,  Drainage  Engineer,  133  pp. 

39.  Proceedings  of  the  Good  Roads  Institute  held  at  the  University  of  North 
Carolina,  March  17-19,  1914.  Held  under  the  auspices  of  the  Departments  of 
Civil  and  Highway  Engineering  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina  and  the 
North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey.  8°,  117  pp.,  15  figs.,  4 pi. 
Postage  10  cents. 

40.  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  during  1914  and  Forestry  Laws  of  North 
Carolina,  by  J.  S.  Holmes,  State  Forester,  1915.  8°,  55  pp.  Postage  5 cents. 

41.  Proceedings  of  Seventh  Annual  Drainage  Convention  of  the  North 

Carolina  Drainage  Association  held  at  Wilson,  North  Carolina,  November 
18  and  19,  1914.  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  and  Miss 
H.  M.  Berry,  Secretary,  1915.  8°,  76  pp.,  3 figs.  Postage  5 cents. 

42.  Organization  of  Cooperative  Forest  Fire  Protective  Areas  in  North 
Carolina,  being  the  Proceedings  of  the  Special  Conference  on  Forest  Fire  Pro- 
tection, held  as  part  of  the  Conference  on  Forestry  and  Nature  Study,  Mon- 
treat, N.  C.,  July  8,  1915.  Prepared  by  J.  S.  Holmes,  State  Forester,  1915.  8°, 
39  pp.  Postage  4 cents. 

43.  Proceedings  of  the  Second  Road  Institute,  held  at  the  University  of 

North  Carolina,  February  23-27,  1915.  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State 
Geologist,  and  Miss  H.  M.  Berry,  Secretary,  1916.  8°,  128  pp.  Postage  15 

cents. 

44.  Highway  Work  in  North  Carolina  During  the  Calendar  Year  Ending 

December  31,  1914.  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  and  Miss 
H.  M.  Berry,  Secretary,  1916.  8°,  55  pp.  Postage  10  cents. 

45.  Proceedings  of  the  Eighth  Annual  Drainage  Convention.  Held  under 
the  Auspices  of  the  North  Carolina  Drainage  Association  and  the  North  Caro- 
lina Geological  and  Economic  Survey,  Belhaven,  N.  C.,  November  29,  30,  and 
December  1,  1915.  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  and  Miss 
H.  M.  Berry,  Secretary.  8°,  90  pp.  Postage  15  cents. 

46.  The  Vegetation  of  Shackleford  Bank,  by  I.  F.  Lewis,  1917.  8°,  40  pp., 
11  pi.  Postage  10  cents. 

47.  Proceedings  of  the  Ninth  Annual  Drainage  Convention  of  the  North 
Carolina  Drainage  Association,  held  at  Greensboro,  N.  C.,  November  22  and 


80 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


23,  1916.  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  and  Miss  H.  M. 
Berry,  Secretary,  1917.  8°,  110  pp.,  8 figs.  Postage  15  cents. 

48.  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  during  1915,  1916  and  1917,  and  Present 

Status  of  Forest  Fire  Prevention  in  North  Carolina,  by  J.  S.  Holmes,  State 
Forester,  1918.  8°,  97  pp.  Postage  10  cents. 

49.  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  during  1913-1917,  Inclusive,  by  Joseph 
Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  and  Miss  H.  M.  Berry,  Secretary,  1919.  8°,  170  pp. 
Postage  20  cents. 

Gives  list  of  useful  minerals  of  North  Carolina  ; contains  detailed  report  on  the  Uwarra  Mill 
at  Candor ; data  relating  to  the  brown  hematite  iron  ores  and  a special  report  on  the  titanifer- 
ous  iron  ores  of  the  State ; report  on  tin  resources  of  the  Kings  Mountain  District ; special  data 
relating  to  manganese  ; greensand  ; marble  deposits  of  Cherokee  County ; clay  tests. 

50.  Proceedings  of  Tenth  Annual  Drainage  Convention,  held  at  Washington, 

North  Carolina,  March  31  and  April  1,  1920,  compiled  by  North  Carolina  Geo- 
logical and  Economic  Survey,  1920.  8°,  78  pp.  Postage  10  cents. 

51.  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  1918,  1919,  and  1920,  and  Forest 

Protection  in  North  Carolina,  by  J.  S.  Holmes,  State  Forester,  1921 °,  ...  pp. 

Postage  10  cents. 

VOLUMES 


Vol.  I.  Corundum  and  the  Basic  Magnesian  Rocks  in  Western  North  Caro- 
lina, by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt  and  J.  Volney  Lewis,  1905.  8°,  464  pp.,  44  pi., 

35  figs.  Postage  32  cents.  Cloth-hound  copy  $1.50  extra. 

Vol.  II.  Fishes  of  North  Carolina,  by  H.  M.  Smith,  1907.  8°,  453  pp.,  21  pi., 
188  figs.  Out  of  print. 

Vol.  III.  The  Coastal  Plain  Deposits  of  North  Carolina,  by  William  Bullock 
Clark,  Benjamin  L.  Miller,  L.  W.  Stephenson,  B.  L.  Johnson,  and  Horatio  N. 
Parker,  1912.  8°,  509  pp.,  62  pi.,  21  figs.  Out  of  print. 

Pt.  I. — The  Physiography  and  Geology  of  the  Coastal  Plain  of  North  Carolina,  by  Wm. 
Bullock  Clark,  Benjamin  L.  Miller  and  L.  W.  Stephenson. 

Pt.  II. — The  Water  Resources  of  the  Coastal  Plain  of  North  Carolina,  by  L.  W.  Stephenson 
and  B.  L.  Johnson. 


Vol.  IV.  The  Birds  of  North  Carolina,  by  T.  Gilbert  Pearson,  C.  S.  Brimley 
and  H.  H.  Brimley,  1918.  8°,  380  pp.,  24  colored  plates,  10  black  and  white 

plates,  275  text  figures,  one  map.  Paper  copies,  $2.00,  postpaid.  Cloth-hound 
copies,  $2.75,  postpaid. 

BIENNIAL  REPORTS 


First  Biennial  Report,  1891-1892,  J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist,  1893.  S°, 
111  pp.,  12  pi.,  2 figs.  Postage  6 cents. 

Administrative  report,  giving  object  and  organization  of  the  Survey ; Investigations  of  Iron 
Ores,  Building  Stone,  Geological  work  in  Coastal  Plain  Region,  including  supplies  and  drink- 
ing waters  in  eastern  counties.  Report  on  Forests  and  Forest  Products,  Coal  and  Marble, 
Investigations  of  Diamond  Drill. 


Biennial  Report,  1893-1894,  J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist,  1894. 
Postage  1 cent. 

Administrative  report. 

Biennial  Report,  1S95-1896,  J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist,  1S96. 
Postage  1 cent. 

Administrative  report. 

Biennial  Report,  1897-1S98,  J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist,  1S9S. 
Postage  2 cents. 

Administrative  report. 

Biennial  Report,  1899-1900,  J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist,  1900. 
Postage  2 cents. 

Administrative  report. 


8°,  15  pp. 


S°,  17  pp. 


8°,  2S  pp. 


8°,  20  pp. 


Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina 


81 


Biennial  Report,  1901-1902,  J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist,  1902.  8°,  15  pp. 
Postage  1 cent. 

Administrative  report. 

Biennial  Report,  1903-1904,  J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist,  1905.  8°,  32  pp. 

Postage  2 cents. 

Administrative  report. 

Biennial  Report,  1905-1906,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  1907.  8°, 

60  pp.  Postage  3 cents. 

Administrative  report;  report  on  certain  swamp  lands  belonging  to  the  State,  by  W.  W. 
Ashe ; it  also  gives  certain  magnetic  observations  at  North  Carolina  stations. 

Biennial  Report,  1907-1908,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  1908.  8°, 

60  pp.,  2 pi.  Postage  5 cents. 

Administrative  report.  Contains  Special  Report  on  an  examination  of  the  Sand  Banks  along 
the  North  Carolina  Coast,  by  Jay  F.  Bond,  Forest  Assistant,  United  States  Forest  Service;  cer- 
tain magnetic  observations  at  North  Carolina  stations  ; Results  of  an  Investigation  Relating  to 
Clam  Cultivation,  by  Howard  E.  Enders,  of  Purdue  University. 

Biennial  Report,  1909-1910,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  1911,  8°, 

152  pp.  Postage  10  cents. 

Administrative  report,  and  contains  Agreements  for  Cooperation  in  Statistical  Work,  and 
Topographical  and  Traverse  Mapping  Work  with  the  United  States  Geological  Survey ; Forest 
Work,  with  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  (Forest  Service)  ; List  of  Topo- 
graphic maps  of  North  Carolina  and  counties  partly  or  wholly  topographically  mapped ; 
description  of  Special  Highways  in  North  Carolina  ; suggested  Road  Legislation  ; list  of  Drain- 
age Districts  and  Results  of  Third  Annual  Drainage  Convention  ; Forestry  Reports  relating  to 
Connolly  Tract,  Buncombe  County  and  Transylvania  County  State  Farms  ; certain  Watersheds  ; 
Reforestation  of  Cut-over  and  Abandoned  Farm  Lands  on  the  Woodlands  of  the  Salem 
Academy  and  College  ; Recommendations  for  the  Artificial  Regeneration  of  Longleaf  Pine  at 
Pinehurst,  Act  regulating  the  use  of  and  for  the  Protection  of  Meridian  Monuments  and  Stand- 
ards of  Measure  at  the  several  county  seats  of  North  Carolina  ; list  of  Magnetic  Declinations 
at  the  county  seats,  January  1,  1910  ; letter  of  Fish  Commissioner  of  the  United  States  Bureau 
of  Fisheries  relating  to  the  conditions  of  the  North  Carolina  fish  industries  ; report  of  the 
survey  for  the  North  Carolina  Fish  Commission  referring  to  dutch  or  pound-net  fishing  in 
Albemarle  and  Croatan  sounds  and  Chowan  River,  by  Gilbert  T.  Rude,  of  the  United  States 
Coast  and  Geodetic  Survey  ; Historical  Sketch  of  the  several  North  Carolina  Geological  Sur- 
veys, with  list  of  publications  of  each. 

Biennial  Report,  1911-1912,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  1913.  8°, 

165  pp.  Postage  7 cents. 

Administrative  report,  and  contains  reports  on  method  of  construction  and  estimate  of  cost 
of  road  improvement  in  Stantonsburg  Township,  Wilson  County ; report  on  road  conditions  in 
Lee  County ; report  on  preliminary  location  of  section  of  Spartanburg-Hendersonville  Highway 
between  Tryon  and  Tuxedo  ; report  of  road  work  done  by  United  States  Office  of  Public  Roads 
during  biennial  period  ; experiments  with  glutrin  on  the  sand-clay  road,  report  on  Central  High- 
way, giving  Act  establishing  and  report  of  trip  over  the  Highway ; suggested  road  legislation  ; 
report  on  the  Asheville  City  watershed  ; report  on  the  Struan  property  at  Arden,  Buncombe 
County  ; report  on  the  Woodlands  on  the  farm  of  Dr.  J.  W.  Kilgore,  Iredell  County  ; report  on 
examination  of  the  woodlands  on  the  Berry  place.  Orange  County ; report  on  the  forest  prop- 
erty of  Miss  Julia  A.  Thorns,  Ashboro,  Randolph  County;  report  on  the  examination  of  the 
forest  lands  of  the  Butters  Lumber  Company,  Columbus  County  ; proposed  forestry  legislation  ; 
swamp  lands  and  drainage,  giving  drainage  districts,  suggested  drainage  legislation  ; proposed 
Fisheries  Commission  Bill. 

Biennial  Report,  1913-1914,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  1915.  8°, 

118  pp.  Postage  10  cents. 

Administrative  report,  and  contains  reports  on  the  work  of  the  State  convicts  on  Hickory 
Nut  Gap  Road,  Henderson  County,  and  on  the  link  of  the  Central  Highway  in  Madison 
County  which  is  being  constructed  with  State  convicts  ; report  on  road  work  accomplished  by 
the  State  Survey  and  by  the  United  States  Office  of  Public  Roads  during  biennial  period  ; sug- 
gested road  legislation  ; a forestry  policy  for  North  Carolina  ; report  on  investigation  ; timber 
supply  of  North  Carolina ; reports  on  the  examination  of  certain  forest  lands  in  Halifax 
County  ; report  on  the  ash  in  North  Carolina  ; report  on  the  spruce  forests  of  Mount  Mitchell ; 
report  on  the  forest  fire  conditions  in  the  Northeastern  States,  by  J.  S.  Holmes  ; Report  on 
the  work  of  the  United  States  Forest  Service  in  North  Carolina  in  connection  with  the  pur- 
chase of  forest  reserves  and  their  protection ; timber  tests,  including  strength  of  timber, 
preservation  of  timber,  timber  suitable  to  produce  pulp,  distillation  of  certain  woods  and  dry- 
ing certain  woods  ; suggested  forestry  legislation  ; report  on  the  swamp  lands  and  their  drain- 
age in  North  Carolina  ; suggested  drainage  legislation  ; report  on  magnetic  observations  made 


82 


Forest  Fires  in  [N’orth  Carolina 


during  biennial  period  ; report  on  the  economic  value  of  the  fisheries  of  North  Carolina  ; report 
on  the  survey  made  in  Albemarle,  Croatan,  and  Pamlico  sounds  by  the  Coast  and  Geodetic 
Survey ; suggested  fisheries  legislation. 

Biennial  Report,  1915-1916,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  1917.  8°, 

202  pp.  Postage  25  cents. 

Administrative  report,  and  contains  special  reports  on  the  Protection  from  Fire  of  the 
Forested  Watersheds  of  Navigable  Streams  ; National  Forest  Reservations  ; forestry  report  on 
Lake  Latham  Farms  near  Mebane,  N.  C. ; report  on  Forest  Tract  owned  by  the  Cranberry  Iron 
and  Coal  Company  near  Cranberry,  N.  C. ; report  on  work  of  N.  C.  Forestry  Association ; 
report  on  Southern  Forestry  Congress;  special  report  on  “The  Fisheries  of  North  Carolina": 
Magnetic  Observations  made  during  1915  and  1916 ; Memorial  Sketch  of  Dr.  Joseph  Austin 
Holmes. 

Biennial  Report,  1917-1918,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  1919.  8°, 

110  pp.  Postage  15  cents. 

Administrative  Report,  and  contains  special  reports  on  the  Mitchell  State  Park  ; Proposed 
Forestry  Course  at  the  State  University ; North  Carolina  Forestry  Association ; report  on 
magnetic  observations  made  during  biennial  period. 

Biennial  Report,  1919-1920,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  Director  and  State  Geologist, 
1921.  8°,  74  pp.  Postage  10  cents. 

Administrative  Report,  and  contains  special  reports  on  the  present  forest  area  of  North 
Carolina  and  estimated  amount  and  value  of  standing  timber ; on  plan  for  water  resource 
survey  of  the  State ; and  on  organization  of  Biological  Division  of  the  Survey. 

Samples  of  any  mineral  found  in  the  State  may  be  sent  to  the  office  of  the 
Geological  and  Economic  Survey  for  identification,  and  the  same  will  be 
classified  free  of  charge.  It  must  be  understood,  however,  that  no  assays  ok 
quantitative  detekminations  will  be  made.  Samples  should  be  in  a lump 
form  if  possible,  and  marked  plainly  on  outside  of  package  with  name  of 
sender,  postoffice  address,  etc.;  a letter  should  accompany  sample  and  stamp 
should  be  enclosed  for  reply. 

These  publications  are  mailed  to  libraries  and  to  individuals  who  may  desire 
information  on  any  of  the  special  subjects  named  in  most  cases  free  of  charge, 
except  that  in  each  case  applicants  for  the  reports  should  forward  the  amount 
needed  for  packing  and  transportation  for  mailing  the  bulletins  desired,  to  the 
State  Geologist,  Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 


' 


: / 


\ 


Date  Due 

Form  335— 40M— 6-39— S 

555  N8 Tl  tio.n 

IT«C„  Geological  and  Econo- 
mic Survey:  Forest  Firea  in 
,N.C.  1918-20 


DATE  DUE 


ISSUED  TO 


553  N873  no. 51 


60729 


